A new art exhibition titled 4 Elements is shining a spotlight on the resilience and creativity of Myanmar artists forced into exile.
Hosted by the advocacy and arts collective A New Burma, the exhibition features painting, poetry, film, and performance art developed during a three-month residency in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The showcase, which opened on May 21 and runs until May 24 at Infra Practice Chiang Mai, is the culmination of years of planning.
It was launched in direct response to the deepening political crisis in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup and the recent 2024 conscription law, which together have driven a wave of creatives to seek refuge in neighboring Thailand.
Diverse mediums and backgrounds
“The name actually came from the artists; they came up with ‘4 Elements,’ which represent each of their mediums that they are creating in this art residency,” said Hnin Win, the founder of A New Burma.
To ensure a broad representation of the country’s artistic voice, organizers deliberately selected the four participants from various regions across Myanmar, stepping away from a sole focus on the commercial capital of Yangon.
“We intentionally tried to select different mediums and also different backgrounds,” Hnin added.
The opening event featured a dynamic program that included artist talks, film screenings, poetry readings, and traditional Burmese dance performances.
A plea for global support
Backed by a Norway-based arts initiative, the residency program ultimately hopes that these four artists will be able to collaborate with international creators around the world.
However, severe travel restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles continue to isolate Myanmar’s creatives from the broader global art community.
“Some of my colleagues and friends have applied to European art residencies, but due to visa rejections and travel bans, they are not allowed to [go],” Hnin explained, underscoring the critical importance of regional safe havens like Chiang Mai.
For the artists involved, the exhibition is both a creative outlet and a vital lifeline to the outside world.
“I would like to invite everyone to come and visit this exhibition. Please continue to support exile artists like us,” urged Thar Aung Sacc, one of the four artists in residency. “We are all putting our utmost efforts into our work.”
