• Burmese
Friday, June 20, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
28 °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
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • 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
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home Culture Arts

In Artist’s Hands, the Constitution Is an Unedifying Spectacle

Wei Yan Aung by Wei Yan Aung
March 5, 2019
in Arts
Reading Time: 1 min read
0 0
A A
In Artist’s Hands, the Constitution Is an Unedifying Spectacle
In Artist’s Hands, the Constitution Is an Unedifying Spectacle
In Artist’s Hands, the Constitution Is an Unedifying Spectacle
In Artist’s Hands, the Constitution Is an Unedifying Spectacle
In Artist’s Hands, the Constitution Is an Unedifying Spectacle
In Artist’s Hands, the Constitution Is an Unedifying Spectacle
In Artist’s Hands, the Constitution Is an Unedifying Spectacle
4.6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

YANGON—Myint Soe prepares a large bell-mouthed pan, which he has placed atop a green gas cooker. Scattered around the pan are spoons and wooden ladles.

Given the presence of the utensils, and the title of his latest exhibition, “Consume”, it appears at first glance that the artist is cooking a meal for visitors to the Nawaday Tharlar Art Gallery. In fact, he is serving up a metaphorical depiction of the 2008 Constitution, which is known as the “Green Book” due to its green cover.

The pan contains only boiling water and some coriander—not much of a meal. Moreover, the spoons and ladles are riddled with holes. The installation symbolizes the less-than-nourishing democracy that has emerged from the 2008 Constitution.

RelatedPosts

Thailand’s ‘Yellow Shirts’ Return to Streets to Demand PM Quit

Thailand’s ‘Yellow Shirts’ Return to Streets to Demand PM Quit

June 19, 2025
447
Thai PM Faces Growing Calls to Quit in Cambodia Phone Row

Thai PM Faces Growing Calls to Quit in Cambodia Phone Row

June 19, 2025
625
Myanmar’s Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Marks 80th Birthday in Junta Jail

Myanmar’s Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Marks 80th Birthday in Junta Jail

June 19, 2025
420

“I ‘cooked’ [a meal of] law and democracy based on the 2008 Constitution. But you can’t serve it up to be eaten [because of the holes in the utensils]. You can’t get the essence of democracy because of these limitations,” said the artist.

“Nature gives us the best things. It gives us the delicious things in the pan. It’s just that we can’t spoon them out. On another level, every religion gives us the best things, but we can’t spoon them out. I leave [the ultimate meaning] to the viewer’s imagination,” the 66-year-old artist said.

The installation can be viewed through Friday at the Nawaday Tharlar Art Gallery on Yawmingyi Street in Yangon.

Known for producing installations that tackle political and social issues, as well as environmental conservation, Myint Soe used 6,000 spoons to create the artwork. He said he didn’t write “2008 Constitution” on the green gas cooker in order to leave some room for viewers to interpret the piece.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: ArtConstitutioninstallationPoliticssatire
Wei Yan Aung

Wei Yan Aung

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

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

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

by R. J. Aung and Tony Waters
November 18, 2023
10.9k

After the 2021 coup the donors, NGOs and CSOs of ‘Peaceland’ decamped from Yangon to Thailand, but their Western, ‘we-know-best’...

Read moreDetails
By Almost Every Measure, Myanmar Junta Ranks Among World’s Worst Regimes
Analysis

By Almost Every Measure, Myanmar Junta Ranks Among World’s Worst Regimes

by Khin Nadi
February 2, 2024
10.8k

The Irrawaddy unpacks the regime’s three-year track record of violence and rights abuses, as assessed by leading global organizations and...

Read moreDetails
The Uncertain Future of Myanmar’s Rakhine State
Guest Column

The Uncertain Future of Myanmar’s Rakhine State

by David Scott Mathieson
March 19, 2025
9.6k

The Arakan Army must now consolidate its unprecedented territorial gains in Rakhine State and contend with humanitarian, intercommunal and international...

Read moreDetails
Dead or Alive: Min Aung Hlaing’s Final Gamble
Commentary

Dead or Alive: Min Aung Hlaing’s Final Gamble

by San Yeik Nyein
May 23, 2025
9.1k

As his regime loses ground, the Myanmar junta boss turns to strongmen overseas. But inside military circles, one question remains:...

Read moreDetails
Charting Myanmar Strongman Ne Win’s Tragic Legacy
Books

Charting Myanmar Strongman Ne Win’s Tragic Legacy

by Mon Mon Myat
July 18, 2024
9.1k

In a new book, Saw Eh Htoo and Tony Waters examine the late dictator’s policy of Burmanization and how it...

Read moreDetails
An Inside Look at the NLD Government’s Economic Reform Efforts
Books

An Inside Look at the NLD Government’s Economic Reform Efforts

by Mon Mon Myat
October 21, 2024
8.5k

In a new book, Sean Turnell, Australian former adviser to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, recalls the achievements of her...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Gabriel Phway at the pre-listening party for her album ‘Metamorphosis’, which was held March 1, 2019 at A Bar in Yangon / Htet Wai

Local Indie Artist Experiences Musical ‘Metamorphosis’

UN Special Rapporteur to Myanmar Yanghee Lee during a press conference in Yangon in January 2017. / The Irrawaddy

UN Urges Social Media, Investors to Promote Human Rights in Myanmar

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Myanmar Tourism Sector Mocks Junta’s Russia Tourist Drive

Myanmar Tourism Sector Mocks Junta’s Russia Tourist Drive

1 week ago
1.8k
Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

1 week ago
1.8k

Most Read

  • Myanmar’s Aging Leaders Continue to Suffer in Junta Jails

    Myanmar’s Aging Leaders Continue to Suffer in Junta Jails

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Trade and Traffic from Thai Border Region Dwindle as Checkpoints Multiply

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mon Groups Vow to Boost Attacks on Myanmar junta

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Lady Myanmar’s Generals Can’t Defeat

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Thai PM Faces Growing Calls to Quit in Cambodia Phone Row

    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

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
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
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • 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.