• Burmese
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
25 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home Culture Arts

A Modern Traditionalist

by Wei Yan Aung
July 17, 2018
in Arts
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
A painting by Sein Myint. / The Irrawaddy

A painting by Sein Myint. / The Irrawaddy

6.8k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

YANGON — When talking about Myanmar’s modernist painters, Sein Myint (Shwe Chi Doe) cannot be left out. He is praised by his contemporaries as an authority on Myanmar culture and folk art.

“The main difference [between Sein Myint and other Myanmar traditional artists] is his hands-on experience,” said Tampawadi U Win Maung, a distinguished scholar of Myanmar culture.

RelatedPosts

Another Entire Junta Battalion Raises the White Flag in Myanmar’s Northern Shan State

Another Entire Junta Battalion Raises the White Flag in Myanmar’s Northern Shan State

November 29, 2023
8.2k
FACT CHECK: Exposing the Myanmar Junta’s Lies on Operation 1027 

FACT CHECK: Exposing the Myanmar Junta’s Lies on Operation 1027 

November 29, 2023
1.3k
Children Slaughtered as Myanmar Junta Bombs Villages Across Rakhine

Children Slaughtered as Myanmar Junta Bombs Villages Across Rakhine

November 29, 2023
414

“He traveled to many rural villages in search of folk culture and customs to be showcased at a rural art exhibition in 1992, giving him first-hand experience of how looms are set up, how peanuts are ground for oil, and more,” he said.

Born in Sagaing and having grown up in Mandalay, Sein Myint was an apprentice to modernists Paw Oo Thet and Win Pe.

“I never wanted to draw conventional art. I was only interested in modern art, ever since I was young,” Sein Myint said.

His first show was a group exhibition in 1970 with renowned Myanmar modernists including U Kin Maung (Bank), Paw Oo Thet, Kin Maung Yin, Win Pe, and others.

Sein Myint stands in front of some of his paintings. / The Irrawaddy

Sein Myint also accompanied renowned scholars and historians such as U Maung Maung Tin, Dr. Khin Maung Nyunt, U Aye Myint, Ko Pinna (Amarapura), Saw Mon Nyin, and U Win Maung (Tampawadi) on their archeological trips.

“I have had both strong modern and traditional nats (spirits) beside me,” said Sein Myint.

Sein Myint was born into a family of traders. Thanks to this, he traveled extensively around the country, which gave him an opportunity to learn about rural life and customs – including pagoda festivals, nat festivals, marionette shows, caneball, ancient monasteries and more. All of this served as a rich source of material for his art.

“I know the ratios of traditional monastic buildings in my mind like a student knows his lessons by heart,” said Sein Myint, speaking of the benefits of his travels.

Since 1985, Sein Myint has also been in the business of making tapestries depicting Myanmar folk culture.

A painting by Sein Myint. / The Irrawaddy

In 1989-1990, his tapestry embodying traditional Myanmar art was selected to grace the walls of the main chamber of the United Nations Headquarters Building in New York.

At the request of military leaders, he also created tapestries to be hung at government offices and presented to leaders of foreign countries.

In 1995, he was appointed by the government as an expert and consultant on traditional Myanmar folk arts. He conducted research with other scholars on rural folk arts in Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe.

“He has sound knowledge of Myanmar traditional culture and knows Myanmar traditional designs by heart. I notice liberty and breadth in his paintings. And he is also a researcher of Myanmar art, said modernist Win Pe, who is one of Sein Myint’s mentors.

Directly appointed by General Tin Oo, the Secretary-2 of the military regime who died in a helicopter crash in 2001, Sein Myint in 1993 became a joint secretary of the Mandalay chapter of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), a proxy civil society association of the junta.

“I’m not interested in politics. I worked as a trader my whole life. But I can’t help drawing. I worked at the USDA office during the day, and drew at night,” Sein Myint said.

“One of the advantages [of working at the USDA office] was that there were no blackouts there,” Sein Myint recalled, as the electricity supply was inconsistent in many areas at the time.

“And I could make several foreign visits,” said Sein Myint. It was quite difficult to travel to foreign countries while the country was under military rule, partly because applying for a passport was difficult and partly because of the cost of airfare.

Sein Myint traveled to the Honolulu, London, South Africa, Yugoslavia and other ASEAN countries under cultural exchange programs and organized exhibitions and lectures on traditional Myanmar tapestries.

He began to focus more on art in 2010, as he did not join the USDA, which transformed itself into a political party to contest the general elections that year.

A painting by Sein Myint. / The Irrawaddy

Spirit in Colors, a series depicting Myanmar traditional nats exhibited in 2008, became a milestone in his artistic career. The series was the result of his painstaking research into the history of nats, nat songs and the life of mediums known as nat kadaw in Burmese.

Other artists have also created nat paintings, but Sein Myint’s works are distinguished in terms of color and style, said Tampawadi U Win Maung.

“Artists have their own styles. But not all of them are enchanting to audiences. U Sein Myint succeeds in both,” he said.

Sein Myint is also a collector of Myanmar antiques and has a private art museum at his house in Mandalay.

“His works better reflect Myanmar culture than those of other artists,” said Tampawadi U Win Maung.

Sein Myint now creates Myanmar traditional paintings according to his own will. “Now I’m drawing zodiac signs. I researched zodiac signs of Western countries in comparison to the astrological chart of Asian countries. And I also included the names of Myanmar months [on the lunar calendar] and Burmese zodiac animal signs in my paintings,” said the 73-year-old artist.

“He draws the things that we see and hear every day in his own style. His works are a combination of liberty and expertise,” said Ko Pyae Wai, owner of Nawaday Tharlar Art Gallery.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: ArtCulture
Previous Post

Six Female Medics Murdered in Captivity by Tatmadaw, TNLA Claims

Next Post

New Chair of Kyaukphyu SEZ Wary of Chinese Loans

Wei Yan Aung

Wei Yan Aung

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Myanmar Civil Society, Burmanization, and the Bars and Coffee Shops of Thailand

Myanmar Civil Society, Burmanization, and the Bars and Coffee Shops of Thailand

November 18, 2023
9.4k
Myanmar Artist, Veteran Democracy Activist Sitt Nyein Aye Dies Aged 68

Myanmar Artist, Veteran Democracy Activist Sitt Nyein Aye Dies Aged 68

September 8, 2023
920
Myanmar Boat Festival’s Return Brings Joy and Sorrow

Myanmar Boat Festival’s Return Brings Joy and Sorrow

October 20, 2023
871
Myanmar Fireworks Festival Muted as Clashes Spread

Myanmar Fireworks Festival Muted as Clashes Spread

November 23, 2023
634
The cover of Magnus Fiskesjö’s ‘Stories from an Ancient Land: Perspectives on Wa History and Culture’

The Much Misunderstood Wa of Myanmar and China

December 7, 2021
14.2k
Burmese Director Explores Same-Sex Relationships in New Film

Burmese Director Explores Same-Sex Relationships in New Film

January 28, 2016
7.9k
Load More
Next Post
A China National Petroleum Corporation gas terminal, part of the Kyaukphyu SEZ, is seen on the outskirts of Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State, in 2016. / Moe Myint / The Irrawaddy

New Chair of Kyaukphyu SEZ Wary of Chinese Loans

Girls sign a petition declaring ‘I was also a victim of sexual harassment’ as part of a campaign against gender-based violence held from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, 2017 in Yangon. / The Irrawaddy

Three Women Accuse Chief of Women’s Rights NGO of Sexual Harassment, Assault

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Echoes of 2017 Genocide as Myanmar Junta Imposes ‘Four Cuts’ on Rakhine

Echoes of 2017 Genocide as Myanmar Junta Imposes ‘Four Cuts’ on Rakhine

6 days ago
6.9k
Illusion of Myanmar Military’s Indispensability Has Been Shattered

Illusion of Myanmar Military’s Indispensability Has Been Shattered

1 day ago
4.3k

Most Read

  • Exodus: Tens of Thousands Flee as Myanmar Junta Troops Face Last Stand in Kokang

    Exodus: Tens of Thousands Flee as Myanmar Junta Troops Face Last Stand in Kokang

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Another Entire Junta Battalion Raises the White Flag in Myanmar’s Northern Shan State

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Drone Attack at Myanmar-China Border Gate Causes Over $14m in Losses

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Continues to Suffer Defeats a Month Into Operation 1027

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Illusion of Myanmar Military’s Indispensability Has Been Shattered

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.