HOUSE OF THE WEEK
Three-storey Mayangone villa
MAYANGONE township is the setting for this three-storey villa with oodles of space and mainstream taste. The pillar- and balcony-heavy façade gives a strong indication of what lies inside- more
Woodcarving on show in Bahan tsp
(Volume 26, No. 507)
Wood carvers work on a statue at Sayasan Plaza in Bahan ahead of an arts and crafts exhibition. Pic: Aung Tun Win
MORE than 1000 wooden statues carved from old trees are set to go on display at the 2nd Myanmar Arts and Crafts Exhibition from January 25 to February 3 at Sayasan Plaza in Bahan Township, organisers said last week.
“We decided to make objects of value out of old trees and roots,” said Daw Win Sein, the deputy general manager of the Central Cooperative Society, which will jointly host the exhibition with Kaung Myanmar Aung Company.
“The aim of this exhibition is to show the quality of Myanmar arts and crafts to the world and it will be a platform for traditional sculptors to show their talent,” she said.
Many of the statues to be featured in the exhibition reflect the traditions, religious beliefs and folk tales of Myanmar’s various ethnic groups.
During the 10-days show visitors will have the chance to watch live wood sculpting demonstrations from local experts, she said.
“About 60 Myanmar wood sculptors will take part in the live demonstrations. Thirty of the sculptors will work on modern designs while the other 30 will work on their own designs. They will not be sculpting anything religious,” she said.
“Local and international experienced sculptors will select the winners who will then receive a prize,” she said.
The exhibition will be open from 9am to 9pm and will be free for locals and US$5 for foreigners.
She said the exhibition is also aiming to develop the local and export market for Myanmar-made wood sculptures. Since early 2009, the society has produced about 2000 sculptures and about 800 of these have been sold, mainly to China.
“At the moment most of the buyers are from China, especially Beijing Hungshen Culture and Arts Company, which has bought a lot. Last October we delivered about 150 sculptures to China and also we have some more orders,” said Daw Win Sein.
The “Post Nargis Co-operative Arts and Craft Exhibition”, held at Sayasan Plaza in early February 2009, featured more than 300 wood sculptures made of trees brought down in Cyclone Nargis.
