Pictures of Transition: Contemporary paintings from Myanmar

This exhibition catalogue accompanied the exhibition of the same name. Held at the ANU School of Art and Design Gallery (March 1-15 2019), Pictures of Transition is the first curated exhibition of contemporary Myanmar painting held since the Myanmar government proceeded on the transition to democracy in 2011. Featuring 40 works by 23 leading contemporary artists, Pictures of Transition captures the diversity of contemporary paintings in Myanmar. Tentative first steps at political commentary, the depiction of female nudes that shock many in Myanmar who consider the subject matter inappropriate, images of rural life and from Buddhist mythology, scenes from tea shops and night markets - all make up Myanmar art today. There is not a distinctive Myanmar school of painting. This exhibition represents a flourishing of individualism following five decades of oppression and censorship. Timed to coincide with the ANUs international biannual Myanmar Update, Pictures of Transition showcased these works to a wide international audience, as well as the ANU and Canberra communities. The exhibition catalogue, with thematic essays and illustrations of all works, stands as a foundational reference for future exhibitions, and captures the artistic expressions associated with this formative moment in Myanmars history