Art
THOE HTEIN: EXPLORING THE FUTURE AND THE PAST Many artists draw inspiration from many aspects of their life. In addition, their view of the time period they’re in and about is infused into their art. What they see, hear and think about - all part of his world - show up in the colours, the medium, and the perspectives they choose. TEXT: MIN PYAE SONE
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mily Bronte may have penned “Wuthering Heights” from the comforts of her own home, hardly having any contact with the outside world, but in an accelerated time like today, no one really lives in a vacuum anymore; so the experiences the artist lives through are necessarily part of whatever they create. Commentating on socio-political issues - like Thoe Htein, 40, has done – will no doubt bring a tremendous amount of pressure and scrutiny amongst the actively satirical community that is the artists, writers and poets of Yangon. To me, Thoe Htein and his art represent a piece of postmodern Myanmar that we reminisce from time to time. ‘We're people who grew up under the junta. Though, not necessarily good or bad, it provides a form of social nostalgia – a niche used in many of Myanmar contemporary media, i.e. the internet, comedy, and movies. Why are we doing this and what purpose does it serve? Thoe Htein was 9 years old in 1988, a time of political turmoil. He had seen the violence and the period of anarchism that ensued afterwards. This violent struggle that the turmoil symbolized pushed him away from feeling anger and rebellion, but instead, led him on the path of satire. At an exhibition at the 43 Art Gallery, Thoe Htein had showcased his work titled, “Dance Monkey, Dance for Your Banana,” which depicted a monkey equipped in police riot gear, brandishing a shield and baton. The monkey has a tall and slender frame but looks very malnourished; it glares
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Magazine | NR 43, 2020
