Painting Myanmar Today

Painting Myanmar Today:
A Selection from the Thukhuma Collection

September 1 - October 27, 2016
Jack Olson Gallery

While Myanmar is transitioning from tradition to modernity after decades of isolation Burmese artists are emerging with new ideas of depicting their society. This exhibition presents the paintings of some of the leaders of this new wave, who have created at a critical time of their country’s history: with the lifting of military censorship, wide access to Internet and the recent political sea-change.

The Thukhuma collection —solely dedicated to Burmese contemporary paintings— was assembled by Professor Ian Holliday, a specialist in Burmese politics at the University of Hong Kong. His interest was piqued ten years ago when, while undertaking academic research in Myanmar, he began his extensive contacts with local galleries and artists: since then, much-widened.