Asean Paintings: Age proves no barrier for artist Nwe Nwe Yi | Myanmar Times
An oil on canvas painting of a women weaving traditional acheik fabric which is on display in her solo exhibition. Shin Moe Myint/The Myanmar Times
As one of Myanmar’s pioneering female artists, Nwe Nwe Yi is no stranger to overcoming social norms.
Now, as she embarks on a solo exhibition at Yangon Gallery, the 78-year-old is proving that age is no barrier.
The exhibition brings together 70 oil paintings of traditional Myanmar life, cultural celebrations and still life depictions of lacquer products and traditional toys.
Born in Ayeyarwady division in 1940, Nwe Nwe Yi had to confront the prevailing idea of the time that women were homemakers and art could be pursued as a hobby, but never as a career.
“I wanted to be an artist since my childhood … But my mother didn’t like drawing. [She] was very simple and didn’t want me to become an artist because she thought it wasn’t important,” said Nwe Nwe Yi.
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Nwe Nwe Yi puts the finishing touches on a painting of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi which is on display in her solo exhibition. Shin Moe Myint/The Myanmar TImes
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“One day my father’s friend came by my house and saw my pictures. He told my family that I was a talented child and they should support my hobby. A few months later I was allowed to take painting lessons from a teacher near my home.”
While Nwe Nwe Yi has participated in many joint exhibitions over the years, this will be just her second ever solo exhibition.
As ever, Nwe Nwe Yi’s signature realist oil paintings make up the majority of her latest catalogue. Many of her works are celebrations of the colour and communal nature of traditional village life with yellows, golds, reds and greens featuring throughout. One piece depicting a village pagoda festival is awash with the reds and yellows of traditional dress which is offset by the cooling greens of the surrounding jungle. Another piece shows a woman weaving, wearing traditional acheik clothes sitting on rolls of red, blue and yellow acheik fabric.
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Nwe Nwe Yi prepares for her second solo exhibition which runs from December 2 to 5 at the Yangon Gallery. Shin Moe Myint/The Myanmar Times
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Nwe Nwe Yi’s pieces aren’t complicated. She uses simple colour contrasts and doesn’t try to clutter her canvas with subjects. Similarly her subjects are reflective of simpler times, when people had less but made do with what little material possessions they had.
“I love Myanmar traditional accessories, traditional toys and our traditional festivals. So I created many traditional style paintings,” she said.
Nwe Nwe Yi spent the last year creating all the artworks for her exhibition from scratch.
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One of Nwe Nwe Yi’s still life oil paintings of laquerware children’s toys which is on display in her solo exhibition. Shin Moe Myint/The Myanmar TImes
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“I’m over70-years-old, so I’m not sure when my next solo show will be. This exhibition is very important to me.”
‘Nwe Nwe Yi 2nd Solo Show’ runs from 10am to 6pm from December 2 to 5 at the Yangon Gallery, People’s Park Compound, Ahlone Road, Dagon township, Yangon.
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04 DEC 2017
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