Thein Shwe Kyi’s Washing with Affection

The eight painters and photographers who travelled 2000 miles in the more remote areas of the Kachin State, shooting or sketching as they went, were finally able to show the public the spoils of their journey. The 2000 Miles Painting and Photo exhibition at the Grand Meeyahta Hotel gave spectacular views of mountain ranges, rivers and villages few have seen before.

Painter Min Wae Aung in his Born of the Ayeyarwaddy (Acrylic, 60" x 72") continues in the style of the Traveller series he painted last year, that was hailed as a landmark. His Return (60" x 72") is more minimalist, a style that probably would not stand up against the drama of his Traveller series.

Kyaw Shein and Thein Shwe Kyi are masters of the brush. Their paintings s are executed in minute detail, almost like photo-realism. However, this means their works, when displayed alongside real photos, endanger their images, especially when the figures in the paintings are posed as if for a snapshot.

Among the many beautiful photos, those that, for me, stood out were Sein Myo Myint’s Ferry (1) and Gather Wood in which he captures the serenity hiding in some part of his busy soul.