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Exhibition “Thread Under Threat: Myanmar Women Out of the 3-Year Coup Shadow”
January 30 @ 10:00 am - February 11 @ 8:00 pm
Well-known Myanmar artist Chuu Wai’s solo exhibition “Thread Under Threat: Myanmar Women Out of the 3-Year Coup Shadow” is born out of solidarity with the opposition movement in Myanmar that has been fighting for democracy since the coup d’état led by General Min Aung Hlaing on 1 February 2021. Organized and curated by SEA Junction, the exhibition to be held on 30 January – 11 February 2024 at the Curved Wall, 4th Floor of BACC, resonates with the resilience of the people of Myanmar, and especially of the women among them. For three years now, they have been demanding the restoration of democracy and the rule of law and the release of the imprisoned leaders and all other political in spite of the military’s use of lethal force. As of 2024, 4,363 people are confirmed killed by the junta coup and a total of 25,818 people have been arrested, with 19,926 currently detained. The number of displaced people in the country and across borders is over 2 million and growing. Amidst the failure of the international community to pay attention and take action, people are not giving up, continuing their support for the opposition National Unity Government (NUG) in exile and counting on their steadfast opposition and the armed resistance by the People Defence Force and the Ethnic Armies gaining ground to eventually win the revolution.
SEA Junction, committed to raise awareness of the Myanmar coup crisis among the general public through art, presents this third commemorative exhibition with a somewhat different approach. Departing from the darkness exposed in previous exhibitions, this time we seek to unveil the beauty that persist even in challenging times. Through the powerful portrayal of women figures in Chuu Wai’s paintings, the exhibition shines a spotlight on the strength, resilience, and indomitable spirit of women who have stood against the oppressive forces of both patriarchal and authoritarian values. These figures become symbols of defiance, challenging preconceptions and inspiring a movement towards a more just and democratic society.
More generally, the artworks radiate the resilient spirit and unique culture of Myanmar as a resource to draw upon in the current context. Utilizing handwoven fabric, vintage photos, and newspaper clippings, the exhibition celebrates the country’s uniqueness while also unveiling and challenging the complex tapestry meticulously woven by those in power through education, religion, and traditional normative systems directed at perpetuating an authoritarian and patriarchal system, which people are set to change.
The exhibition, to be opened on 30 January at 5.30 PM with a panel at SEA Junction composed ofthe artist joining online and leading activists/experts presenting in person (details to be provided soon), consists of five series exploring different means to reflect on the overarching themes as follows:
The Textile Series
The use of fabric goes beyond its aesthetic appeal; it symbolizes the profound meanings embedded in Myanmar’s struggle. As the threads of fabric weave through history, culture, and religion, they become both a canvas for artistic expression and a testament to the strength that lies within our societal fabric. Fabric transcends its materiality, becoming a battleground for patriarchal and feminist ideals in the societal narrative.
Chuu Wai is interested in discovering and working with traditional hta-meins and longgyis (traditional long, wrap skirt) fabrics as canvases. The strong, confident, sexy women depicted with traditional (male) accessories challenge the control of society over women – no longer prepared to accept the traditional and subordinate role Myanmar society has thrust upon them for too long.
The Woven Dilemma Series
This woven series incorporates the craft of traditional market basket weaving, still used in the daily lives of Myanmar women—an art form and way of life passed down over generations. Weaving serves as a fitting metaphor for living history, where cultures, traditions, and ideologies are in continual motion, overlapping and bound to each other through human dynamics. In a world where narratives are twisted, the Woven Series is a physical manifestation of these entangled stories and the intricate tapestry of the real world in Myanmar. Paintings and fabric intertwine to tell tales of resilience, resistance, and the indomitable spirit of the country.
Collage Series
In the fusion of acrylic paintings and photo collages creates a poignant narrative that delves into the diverse tapestry of women’s lives in Myanmar. Each stroke of the brush and carefully curated collage unveils a visual journey through time, capturing the essence of women’s experiences from historical epochs to the present day. Through meticulous composition, vintage photographs interlace with vibrant paintings, offering a profound exploration of the societal evolution and the intricate roles women have played. Chuu Wai’s art becomes a time capsule, illustrating the struggles, resilience, and empowerment that have characterized women’s lives in Myanmar, transcending cultural shifts and societal changes. The marriage of painting and photo collage serves as a powerful medium to illuminate the untold stories, inviting viewers to engage with the rich narrative of women across generations in Myanmar.
Colourful Series
In this series, a compelling narrative unfolds, shedding light on the resilience and adaptation of exiled women. Through vivid acrylic paintings, the dynamic interplay of colors and brushstrokes surrounds the women figures, serving as a metaphor for the multifaceted experiences of these women in a new environment. Much like the lizard/chameleons changing their skin to navigate surroundings, these women embody adaptability, embracing transformation as a means of survival in exile. The canvases resonate with silent narratives of struggle, where each stroke of colour tells a story of strength amid uncertainty.
The Poem Series
A 1960s poem from a famous Burmese poet, Zaw-Gyi is echoing the resistance and resilience with the metaphor of a delicate yet indestructible Hyacinth/Bay-Dar flower that poetically depicts the overcoming of multiple crisis. Likewise, the paintings shows women figures against a golden background with the flowers worn nonchalantly on their hair as if to say that can stand any repression and pass through any catastrophe. This series was created while the artist was living in Kyiv Ukraine with the colour inspiration from the Orthodox Churches in the city and religious icons.
Artist Profile
Chuu Wai (Burmese: ခြူးဝေ; born 1992 in Yatsaut, Shan State) is a painter, performance artist and activist from Myanmar who has lived in exile in Paris following the 2021 Myanmar coup d’état. She has been active since 2008 when she began studying at the National University of Art and Culture (Mandalay) and Technological University (Mandalay). She has had solo and group exhibitions both in Myanmar and internationally including in London, Paris, New York, Berlin, Luxembourg, Hong Kong and Canberra and often also gives art talks. She is a founder of ‘Young Dream’ under the Jefferson Center (Mandalay) which is a group organizing workshops and exhibitions for young artists and in Myanmar she is considered a media figure and a young influencer artist.
Since 2015, Chuu has been working on paintings which reflect her interest in the female identity when her artistic impulse found a new outlet after the sexual harassment of a guy on the street. This experience made her focus on gender issues and the condition of women in Myanmar today. The artist, who is an engineer as well as a painter, has created a series of works with many layers which conceal and reveal at the same time. The exhibition in Bangkok is the first solo exhibition in Thailand. For more information, see further https://chuuwai.com
For more information, please email: info@seajunction.org or phone/wa: +66970024140
NB: The event is free, but donations are welcome to support SEA Junction activities.
Organizer:
SEA Junction
SEA Junction, established under the Thai non-profit organization Foundation for Southeast Asia Studies (ForSEA), aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions, from arts and lifestyles to economy and development. Conveniently located at Room 407-8 of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center or BACC (across MBK, BTS National Stadium), SEA Junction facilitates public access to knowledge resources and exchanges among students, practitioners and Southeast Asia lovers. For more information, see www.seajunction.org, join the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/1693058870976440/ and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @seajunction.
