01 Work, Interpretations of Burmese deities, Min Wae Aung's Monks, with footnotes #01

Min Wae Aung (b. 1960)

Monks, c. 1996

Acrylic on canvas

97 by 136 cm., 38 1/8 by 53 1/2 in.

Private collection

Buddhism is practiced by nearly 90% of the population of Myanmar, and is predominantly of the Theravada tradition. It is the most religious Buddhist country in terms of the proportion of monks in the population and proportion of income spent on religion. Adherents are most likely found among the dominant Bamar people, Shan, Rakhine, Mon, Karen, and Chinese who are well integrated into Burmese society. Monks, collectively known as the sangha (community), are venerated members of Burmese society. Among many ethnic groups in Myanmar, including the Bamar and Shan, Theravada Buddhism is practiced in conjunction with the worship of nats, which are spirits who can intercede in worldly affairs. More on Burmese Monks

Min Wae Aung is often referred to as Burma’s greatest living artist, gaining worldwide notoriety and occupying exhibition spaces across the globe. He studied very traditional art and his experience as a commercial graphic artist and a visit to the USA in 1993, encouraged him to employ a more contemporary style. He studied traditional landscape and portrait painting at the State School of Fine Art in Yangoon (Rangoon) and he has exhibited his work in the UK on various occasions, as well as at international art fairs like Tresors and Taipei Art Fair International. His works form part of private collections in the UK, USA, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan to name but a few, and he has exhibited globally, including Paris, New York and Sydney etc.

“While his present style of figure drawing is almost photographic, his composition is intentionally contrived. Monks and nuns are arranged in aesthetically pleasing compositions, always with a perfect sense of movement and energy in his works”

“The outlines of the brightly coloured, subtly shaded figures are clearly delineated in black, against a background often executed in a contrasting pointillist manner. This shimmering background seems to create an aura around the figures, which are thrown into greater focus, giving them an intense and luminous quality. They seem larger than life”Hilary Binks, Asian Art Critic. More on Min Wae Aung

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