Refugees talking about rights

Sayar Phoe's Artworks

The inherent right to freedom of expression belongs to every individual from the moment of their birth, and even the most formidable constraints cannot prevent an artist from conveying his creativity through charcoal sketches, under the watchful eyes of prison wardens. Following the resurgence of the Burmese junta's control in 2021, an artist found himself incarcerated in a severe penitentiary located north of Yangon. Despite this, he clandestinely captured his fellow inmates in sketches, vividly depicting the daily struggles of political prisoners, and then unveiled these depictions to the world!

I miss my parents so much. I want to meet them but it’s impossible for me at the moment.

It'd be nice to have you here with me

Positioned in a solemn arrangement, clay-crafted dove toys symbolizing peace and innocence invite reflection upon countless souls lost in war, each embodying an individual story of shared sorrow and the resilience of the human spirit.

Within intricate layers of enamel paint, a profound narrative emerges, depicting civilians' resilience amid junta airstrikes, evoking the perspective of a child forever impacted by the violent realities of conflict.

A commonly seen phrase in rural Burmese households, "The flesh of a child is bitter. The flesh of a dog is sweet," explores Burmese folklore and resonates with junta attacks in those regions, where civilians refer to junta soldiers as "dogs".

Upon luminous pedestals, traditional paper mache toys create an ethereal tableau, honouring the innocent souls of conflict-affected children, as their soft glow invites viewers into a realm of introspection.

A spherical lamp's soft glow reveals a captivating metamorphosis of a sandy playground into a liminal landscape, where interplay of light and shadows blurs the lines between reality and imagination.

The neon sign, portraying a child's crude drawing, casts a red glow on crumpled metal roofs, symbolizing the deep bond between children and their homes, yet also hauntingly reminding of homes destroyed by junta airstrikes.

A geometric glass vase, filled with delicate white flowers, rests on a rotating pedestal, bathed in gentle illumination from below, evoking a sense of tribute and mourning.

KYAW RA MINE

Saw Kyaw Ra Mine misses his parents, who live in a village in Myanmar. He wants to meet them but is unable to. He wakes up early and spends free time playing games. He dreams of becoming an artist and saving money to support his parents.

His family was broken up due to a father's immature and party-oriented lifestyle, which led to a separation. He feels small, insecure, ashamed, and depressed. He meets a friend who invites them to a youth conference program, where they are warmly welcomed and taken care of as family members. The people they meet are active, smiling, and inspiring, providing help and encouragement to reconstruct themselves.

Smile

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People are staying together and making community who have same basic value of humanity and moral to form a stable and secure society. Each and every one is contributing for this community with their skills and capacities for the sustainability of it. People respects to each other, understand the diversity without judgement or discrimination and always think of inclusiveness. Such community can only be the good united community or the united community with diversity. I believe the art is the best platform or medium that can bridge among people for sharing and expressing of thoughts, feelings and opinions without words or languages. The opinions and voices of every participants is important and only the collective voices can represent and reflect the community. I want to search the collective answer of “What is union?” for our community through this experimental process. This exhibition is not only to watch my art creations but also a process or collective works that audience can participate. You can reflect how you grow up, what happening to you now and what you hope for your future. Then express it by participating in this exhibition. Please check the steps by steps instruction and feel free to participate!

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Refugees talking about rights

Sayar Phoe's Artworks

Artwork 1

KYAW RA MINE

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