Art for art’s sake inspires Myanmar artist

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi smiles while attending the portrait exhibition, Portraits of Myanmar’s People, held in Bahan township on October 23.
Pic: Thet Htoo

“IT’S because her hair is always adorned with flowers that caught my interest; I hardly ever see her without flowers,” exclaimed famous artist Win Pe Myint.

It was this that the artist said was his inspiration to paint Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Like Win Pe Myint, a number of artists have come together to draw portraits of Myanmar people they are inspired by. A collection of paintings, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, general Aung San, former UN secretary general U Thant, and established local artists were exhibited from October 23 to 25 in Bahan township. The theme of the exhibition was ‘Portraits of Myanmar’s People’.

“Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is altruistic. Although she is a woman, she has performed a leading role in the democracy movement. Therefore she has earned the respect of artists whose admiration has been expressed in these portraits,” Win Pe Myint said.

The artist did admit that drawing her portrait was a challenge because he was worried whether he could make the portrait lifelike or gracious enough.

“She is an outstanding example for Myanmar. I feel she wears flowers in her hair to show she is a true Myanmar woman,” he said.

“I respect her habit of decorating flowers in her hair which is a custom of Myanmar women so that I drew her portraits in respect.

“Whichever side of her you see, you will behold flowers on her head.”

Artist Win Pe Myint drew three portraits of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in small sizes as well as drawings of U Win Tin, writer and journalist Ludu Sein Win, U Sunny Nyein and artist Kin Maung Yin.

Win Pe Myint also said the grey hair of U Win Tin provided the inspiration for his portrait.

“U Win Tin contributed articles on art for Hantharwady newspaper and used to visit my art exhibitions. I hadn’t seen him for 20 years,” he said.

“But last week, I got to meet him at Gallery 65. His hair had turned silvery white. I liked his hair so much that it inspired me to draw his portrait.”

The artist said that the purpose of the show was not political, but about inspiration.

“The artists drew the portraits in admiration. They are not interested in politics … They would paint if commissioned or if they felt admiration for someone or were inspired by something,” he said.

“I can’t allow the art to be under the influence of politics, religion and commercialism,” he added.

Last year Win Pe Myint held an exhibition of 100 portraits of his friends that were artists, writers and musicians. A few paintings from last year’s exhibition were displayed in addition to the recent portraits of U Win Tin and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi painted only a month before the show.

“The show was long-awaited and I see all the artists really expressed the nature of the people through their portraits. They are very realistic,” said U Hla Min, a visitor to the show.

The show’s organisers emphasised that the event was held to promote the charity work of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, with half the profits going towards her charity works.

“I wanted to donate to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s charitable works, but I couldn’t afford much. That’s why I tried to raise funds through an art show,” said Ma Lai Lai Aye,one of the organisers.