Yangon, Myanmar: An Unexpected Contemporary Art Destination

November 20, 2015

Burma Art Gallery

 Liz Shemaria, Stride Destination Expert

An artist sweeps brushstrokes across canvas, forming a scene of monks and nuns walking serenely with hands folded over saffron and pink robes flowing at sunset.

It was 2008 in Yangon, Myanmar, and this particular artist told me that he and his peers were encouraged by the government to depict positive stories only. Political expression was forbidden. Then, and for decades before, artists in Myanmar faced censorship from a strict military regime. Private art shows were delayed or cancelled by the government without explanation. However, this all began to change in 2011, when military rule ended and tourism began to flourish.

Burma lake

A recent successful win for the country’s pro-democracy party, the NLD, is sure to grant even greater freedom of expression. Today, checking out the art, both contemporary and of “old masters” in Yangon, might just be an addition to a list of your must sees, among absorbing the rich history of the Shwedagon Pagoda, and vibrancy of Bogyoke Market.

Myanmar is rich with art history. In the 1950s, fine art schools opened in Yangon and Mandalay and a National Art Association was formed in Yangon. However, after 1962, when a military regime instituted a socialist economy, there was greater scrutiny of artists and it was more difficult to get supplies. In the 1980s, illustrators contributed to a few private journals, and galleries in Yangon’s most expensive residential area, the Golden Valley, (which is still a popular location for galleries today) held exhibits.

temples, Burma

The Irrawaddy news magazine, a daily online and monthly print magazine that covers Myanmar from Thailand, reported that 1993 was a turning-point when several well-known painters exhibited their work in Singapore. When the military regime promoted “the year of the tourist” in 1996, gallery owners anticipated new buyers. In the early 2000s, more galleries began to pop-up, and even more opened after 2011.

Today, dozens of internationally known artists call the city home, and with fewer restrictions in place now, many of them exhibit abstract, impressionistic, and cubist influences.

Galleries to Visit

River Gallery I and II: Founded by a New Zealander who is devoted to elevating the image of Burmese artists worldwide. River I is in The Strand hotel in downtown Yangon, while River II, is nearby.

Pansodan Gallery: Opened in 2008, Pansodan is near Bogyoke Market so you can stop by before or after a shopping trip.

Nawaday Tharlar Gallery: Home to an open mic night and art gallery, with a “devotion to freedom of expression.”

New Zero Artspace: A flourishing gallery and event space.

Inya Art Gallery: An artist-owned and operated gallery founded in 1989.


Ready to visit Burma? Check out these guided tours, which offer free time to explore the local art scene:

The Heart of Myanmar (Burma) from G Adventures

Myanmar Experience from Intrepid

Burma in Depth from Explore!

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