A group of 12 young painters are responsible for this new craze, sending Mandalay youth into a flurry. Mdy Young Artist group was established as an outdoor painting collective on the streets of Mandalay on July 19, 2016.

Since then, the group has branched out to include body painting, as members have grown to over 20 and all of whom are amateur artists in their twenties.

“We all have natural abilities with painting which makes us a great team,” said Ko Ye Yint Naing, a Mdy Young Artist member. “We usually make our paintings on the sidewalk for anyone, regardless of class, to be able to watch. Just now we are starting to draw art work on the body.”

The group originally was inspired by popular Indian mehndi designs – a form of body art which uses a paste made from the powered dried leaves of the henna plant. The Mdy Young Artist group is adapting the art form to depict important images in Myanmar culture such as floral motifs dating back to the Kingdom of Pagan.

Mdy Young Artist group does not have an exact shop location – as each day they move to different locations throughout the city – but that doesn’t stop the artists from seeing anywhere from 40 to 100 visitors a day.

“We mostly do our drawings in the markets – Mingalar Mandalay street side, areas near U Bein Bridge and Kunthodaw pagoda,” Ko Ye Yint Naing said. “We paint the designs as customers want them. Most of them like to have paintings around their necks, forearms, and back of the hand. Those are the parts of the body that are most easily seen by others.”

The body art paintings can last on the skin for one or two days. They are water resistant and easy to remove.

“Our group members must be a good team and we also need encouragement,” he said. “Adults should understand what we are trying to do. We would like to invite any young people who are interested in painting to join us.”

In addition to the body paintings, the group also displays their canvases on the streets for all to enjoy. Anyone interested is free to join and study with them, Ko Ye Yint explained.

“As body art paintings are made on the road, anyone passing by can watch. Especially many foreigners who come to visit Mandalay. In the future we have plans to make a full art show on the road,” one young member said.

“I’ve wished for a long time to have a body art painting,” said Ma Nwe Nwe, a woman who had a painting drawn on the back of her hand.

“I’ve been looking everywhere and just found this group. Body art is not like a tattoo … after getting painted, I see that this art is very beautiful and delicate. I’m very happy with it.”

– Translation by Zaw Nyunt