top of page

Artists offer ‘crazy’, colourful look into natural world

By Lae Phyu Pya Myo Myint   |   Monday, 27 March 2017

From abstraction to surrealism, a dozen contemporary Myanmar painters are changing the way we associate colours in the natural world.

From April 1 through 5, a collection of veteran artists will not only exhibit new works, but also present lectures and a painting workshop ahead of the exhibit opening at Wahso Art Gallery.

The show, entitled “Crazy Art Exhibit”, is not so much a testament to its namesake but rather a display of the array of contemporary styles, themes and methods.

The twelve artists depict everything from traditional pastoral scenes, to forests, to cats but all in a unique colour arrangement to give a fresh look at ordinary images.

Artist Soe Soe, who owns Wahso Art Gallery, is featured in the gallery’s first show of the year.

“I invited these twelve artists who create work in such a unique style and a variety of subject matter…This exhibition is put on for art lovers, for those who want to experience the tension of these works existing together,” he said.

Soe Soe is known for creating landscapes whose vantage point is obscured by rainfall and thus takes on a foggy or cloudy view.

Go Back

“I create rainy paintings – the experience and excitement of watching the world pass by in a car during rainy season,” he said. “I use this rainy effect as a metaphor to think and then create.”

Besides Soe Soe, the exhibit will also feature works by Tin Maung Oo, Kyaw Soe, Mon Thet, Hla Phone Aung, Aung Kyaw Htet, Thee Zar, Myoe Kyaw, Aung Kyaw Tun, Chan Nyein Kyaw, Ni Po U and Than Kyaw Htay.

Artist Chan Nyein Kyaw, who often is known by his initial CNK, will show an entirely different and more feline style.

Drawing inspiration from the wise and sometimes sneaky creatures, CNK created six unique cat paintings which pay homage to both his cats and colour.

“I created my own combination of colour patterns with cat images,” he explained. “I observed cats’ behaviours – they’re lovely – so I wanted to portray their different behaviours and moods alongside my unique colour pattern.”

The April will exhibit will mark CNK’s second time showing cat inspired works.

Similarly artist Kyaw Soe follows suit with another new and intricate colour pattern. Where CNK is concerned with animals, Kyaw Soe’s work focuses on abstracting the trees of Yangon.

His six works feature abstract expressions of trees using warm, bright colours.

“I wanted to find a compliment of colour for the trees. I also wanted to capture the nature of trees, their sensibilities through my colour choice,” he said.

In each of the twelve artists’ work, there is new understanding of colour in relation to the natural world.

The ‘Crazy’ exhibit will be on display through April 5 at Wahso Art Gallery, No. 81 C Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha Road, Bahan twp, Yangon.

bottom of page