MYANMAR artists will soon have another chance to exhibit their work in a major exhibition. The Tun Foundation Bank is inviting entries for its second annual exhibition and grand prize competition, which opens in December.

Like last year’s five-day Best Paintings exhibition, which attracted more than 1000 works of art, the aim is to develop the contemporary art scene in the country and to depict the culture, lifestyle and customs of Myanmar and its various communities through art.

Entry is open to anyone over the age of 18, and each artist is allowed to submit two works (down from three last year).

This year, says the secretary of the organisation committee U Kyi Win, the artist does not need to send the original painting, but can submit a photo CD or a 5x7" photo as the first step towards entry. The deadline is October 30 and the entry may be delivered to 53/61 Strand Road, at the corner of Theinbyu Road.
“So many works were submitted last year that it was hard to find room for them. So we will choose about 300 works from among the entries this year, and only the selected artists will be asked to send their original works. That will be not later than November 25,” said U Kyi Win, who is also the secretary general of Myanmar Traditional Artists and Artisans Organisation (Central).

“We’re also allowing artists to sign their work, which we did not last year,” he added.

U Kyi Win said the committee planned to invite another foreign judge to join its seven-member judging team of local and international experts.

“As the event’s objectives include encouraging the emergence of talented artists and helping Myanmar art raise its profile internationally, we are trying to hold our Tun Foundation Bank exhibitions and competitions in foreign countries. I hope we can make our dream come true very soon,” U Kyi Win said.

Prizes and awards totalling K15 million will be presented to the winning 10 entries. The overall winner will be awarded K3 million; the second prizes will be K2.5 million, the third K2 million, and there will be six consolation prizes of K1 million each. Each winner will be awarded a gold medal as a plus.

The 2007 exhibition first-prize winner was U Win Myint Moe from Nyaungdon, in Ayeyarwady Division, with his painting titled Hloat Shah Nay Thaw Thanzin Myah (Moving melodies).