Portraits of the Anonymous: Breaking Gender Stereotypes in Myanmar Spring Revolution

This exhibition, featuring the work of Myanmar artist Lily, was born out of solidarity with the people of Myanmar that has been fighting for democracy since the coup d’état led by General Min Aung Hlaing on 1 February 2021. Within a matter of days, youths and older people from all walks of life began to pour onto the streets in outrage and protest against the military. Since then, for almost five years now, the population has been demanding the restoration of democracy and the release of the imprisoned leaders and all other political prisoners in spite of the military’s use of lethal force.

Their resistance has come at a heavy price. As of 22 July 2025, 6,980 people have been confirmed killed by the junta, and a total of 29,417 people have been arrested, with 22,193 currently detained, and 172 people have been sentenced to death. 620 children have been arrested and 856 children killed (AAPP). The number of displaced people in the country and across borders is over 3 million and growing as young people leave the country to escape from forced conscription in the army.

This art exhibition, previously exhibited by SEA Junction, speaks about a collective history of women artists who were part of the Burmese Spring Revolution, vividly memorialising their struggles, strengths, labours, and often forgotten contributions. The series is entitled “Portraits of the Anonymous”, in reference to the quote adapted from a line of writer Virginia Woolf: “ For most of history, anonymous was a woman”. Women who were among the crowds of photographers who documented the military coup remain invisible and anonymous to these days, yet many women lens-based practitioners, from photographers and filmmakers to photojournalists and artists, were on the frontline and took risks to cover the 2021 coup d’état. Against the background of coup-wise images, shot by each participating artist herself, these women are portrayed with photos of their works, along with their testimonies to document their stories and make them visible.

Organizers

This exhibition is organized and curated by BACC pop・up in collaboration with SEA Junction

SEA Junction, located at Room 407-8 of the BACC, aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions, from arts and lifestyles to economy and development (see seajunction.org)

BACC pop・up is a collaboration of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), the main art meeting place of the City of Bangkok, with Seacon Square as part of their MunMun Art Destination (MMAD) project. Located on MunMun Srinakarin Zone, on the 3rd floor of Seacon Square Srinakarin, BACC pop•up aims to promote art to become part of people’s everyday life, in this case specifically for those living on the eastern side of Bangkok. For more information, see BACC pop•up

Artist Profile

Lily is a Burmese photographer and mixed media artist. She was part of the protest against the coup that overthrew the democratic government in the Spring of 2021 and now lives abroad. Lily’s poetically inclined repertoire often includes intimate, contemplative images shot within private, enclosed spaces.

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