U Htay Lwin Oo works on a bamboo sculpture in his workshop.

MANY artists create their magic by drawing with pencils or painting with brushes, while sculptors carve their visions into wood, stone or ice. But U Htay Lwin Oo, an artist who lives in Pyinmana, combines several of these forms as he sketches pictures onto paper before carving them on bamboo.

In Myanmar, bamboo is used for a variety of purposes, including building houses. U Htay Lwin Oo, a former public servant, has shown that with a little imagination it can be transformed into art.

“There are many wood sculptors in Myanmar. I thought I could never catch up with them and what’s more,” he said, “I have a propensity for travelling off the beaten track.”

Despite these words, U Htay Lwin Oo previously dabbled in the art of making carved wooden walking sticks before electing to take a different direction.

While reading magazines from Japan and China in 2000, he was struck by a lack of creativity in the use of bamboo.

“I wondered if I could create art using bamboo, instead of leaving it unused in the forests,” he said, adding that he wanted his products to be hardy enough for everyday use while remaining beautiful works of art.

U Htay Lwin Oo’s chosen canvas – bamboo – is plentiful in Myanmar with a number of different species available but he chose waboe bamboo (dendrocalamus giganteus) – a species of giant bamboo. It grows in the mountain forests east of Pyinmana. He said the thicker waboe bamboo allowed him to carve deeply into the outer layer without damaging the underlying fibres.

Some of U Htay Lwin Oo’s finished products.

In his opinion, working with bamboo was different to normal wood because it cannot be cut to a desired size and required greater planning and a little imagination to find the right piece.

“In the case of bamboo, we follow the natural curve and design of the piece. We can’t influence bamboo like we can wood,” he said.

The main difficulties with bamboo, he said, is that it is fibrous, has a sweet taste which attracts insects and is prone to cracking.

To prevent cracking and make it shine, U Htay Lwin Oo coats his creations in varnish. He said most other sculptors use polish but he prefers varnish because it lasts longer. But he did advise owners to keep their bamboo works in a showcase as well, to ensure longevity.

“It lasts for a long time unless it is regularly exposed to sunlight,” he said.

When choosing bamboo to work with, U Htay Lwin Oo said he recalled the advice of his family; bamboo picked during the waning of Tazaungmone (the eighth month of the Myanmar year) during the cool season is free from insects.
Because he is only a small-scale producer, U Htay Lwin Oo said he does not use any machines to remove moisture from the bamboo. Instead, he places the raw bamboo underneath a shed until it dries out.

The tools he uses to carve the bamboo are the same as other wood sculptors and range from the size of a cotton bud to as large as a chisel.

And U Htay Lwin Oo does not rely on traditional teachings for his inspiration.

“I have many teachers but they don’t teach me in person. Everything I see, hear and know in this world is my teacher,” he said. For example, when he sees a picture in a magazine, book or newspaper that catches his eye, he imitates it in his drawings.

But everyone has favourites and U Htay Lwin Oo is no exception; his favourite designs are hawks, legendary birds, floral patterns and people in ancient dress.

In eight years of bamboo artistry, U Htay Lwin Oo said many foreigners and locals have come to appreciate his works.

But he said most of them buy his works as gifts.

In dealing with his customers, U Htay Lwin Oo has one solid rule – no bargaining.

“Ninety-nine out of 100 artists sell their works to their well-off customers at lower prices – no one can resist their exploitation – but I’m different,” he said.

“I don’t care whether mine are sold or not,” he said. “I don’t need to advertise my works and I do it out of my love for the art and I know they won’t go bad. Whenever I look at them I gain personal satisfaction – I feel elated,” he said.

U Htay Lwin Oo said the financial and mental support of his family contributed to his carefree attitude towards making money from his work. And the money he earns from selling artworks is used to buy raw bamboo and other necessities.

Apart from making ornate household items like teacups, tooth picks, chopsticks, spoons and flat ladles, U Htay Lwin Oo also carves larger bamboo pieces which replicate ivory.

“For such things, I use bamboo picked in a forest some 30 hills to the east of Pyinmana because it has great thickness,” he said, adding that for smaller works, he used locally-sourced bamboo.

Even though his business is hectic, U Htay Lwin Oo said he planned to pass on his knowledge of bamboo working to the younger generation. He even plans to hold a one-man exhibition to display his work, aiming to attract students the show.

“I want the world to notice Myanmar art first,” he said. “Then I want everyone to know that bamboo can be transformed into artwork too,” he said.

He said he will charge an entry fee for the show but will donate the proceeds to homes which care for the aged, deaf or mute.

U Htay Lwin Oo has big dreams for the future.

“It would be great if this art was made a subject at the University of Culture,” he said.

U Htay Lwin Oo has been so focussed on his work in the last eight years that he no longer sits and talks with friends at teashops, which he said is a “waste of time” for him.

While many people come to visit his house to see him working or buy art, U Htay Lwin Oo remains humble.

“I’m not yet an expert, I’m still learning.”