The Splendor of Myanmar's Traditional Arts
An Exhibition of Photographs, Textiles, and Crafts
Curated by Victoria Vorreiter
A Collaboration between the Universities of Mandalay and Chiang Mai
7-8 March 2016
Mandalay University Research Center
Mandalay, Myanmar
“The Splendor of Myanmar’s Traditional Arts,” a collection of photographs, textiles, and crafts, represents a first-ever exhibition at Mandalay University, an institution of higher education that reopened three years ago after having been closed for twenty-five years. This seminal event was launched with a celebratory introduction by the leadership of both Mandalay and Chiang Mai Universities.
Though mounted for only two days, the display drew an astonishing number of visitors, reaching nearly 1,000 students and faculty members of diverse ethnic backgrounds and from an array of academic institutions: Mandalay University (500 visitors), Yadanabon University (60), the University for the Development of the National Races of the Union in Sagaing (300), the University of Education in Sagaing (20), the MU/CMU collaborative academic seminar (60), and the general public (25).
Such an outpouring of interest demonstrates not only the desire to witness, honor, and preserve the traditional arts and artisans of Myanmar, but also the thirst and enthusiasm for future exhibitions. Following are images that highlight this momentous event.
Seminar students and faculty members from the Anthropology Department of Mandalay University and
the Center for Ethnic Studies and Development (CESD), Chiang Mai University |
Dr. Nu Nu Yi, Pro-Rector, MU
Dr. Chayan Vaddhanaphuti, director of CESD at CMU
Dr. Thida Win, Rector of MU |
Dr. Thida Win and Victoria Vorreiter, curator |
Dr. Nyunt Nyunt Win, Dr. Nu Nu Yi, Dr. Thida Win, Dr. Aung Myint, Director General (Retired) of MU,
and Dr. Chayan Vaddhanaphuti director of CESD at CMU |
Delighting in traditional Akha Loimi garments from the Shan hills
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Aye Aye Pyone, Lecturer in the Anthropology Department of MU, and her students, |
Student Stephen Pangmu Lahpai, Dr. Zin Mar Latt
and Dr. Cathy Tun, Lecturer at MU |
Dr. Aye Aye Pyone, Associate Professor,
and her Karen Pwo family |
Students and Faculty from Yadanabon University, Mandalay |
Dr. Zam Shin Khine, Director of the University for the Development of National Races of the Union, Sagaing, and his students are joined by Dr. Nyunt Nyunt Win, Victoria Vorreiter, and Dr. Chayan Vaddhanaphuti |
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A Selection of Comments from the Guest Book
The Splendor of Myanmar's Traditional Arts
An Exhibition of Photographs, Textiles, and Crafts
The exhibition, The Splendor of Myanmar’s Traditional Arts, is very interesting. I honour my country by seeing this exhibition. Myanmar nationalities are very good. Pleasure!!!
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Khin Mon Thet
MA III, English
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It is really great in showing these arts. It can activate our emotions to create other great art. Thank you for this.
It’s very amazing and interesting show for us to have a golden chance to see and to study the customs and traditional handicrafts of our neighbors. We hope the tie between the two nations will be stronger and stronger because of exchange program.
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U Zam Shin Khine
University for the Development of National Races of the Union, Sagaing
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This seminar is very important for the people of ASEAN Countries. This is to be One Nation, One Identity.
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U Thein Htay
Pro-Rector UDNR
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Dear Victoria,
Congratulations! Very exciting and breathtakingly beautiful. Your care, concern, and expertise are superb. Hope to bring many more exhibitions to Myanmar, particularly to Mandalay. Best,
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Professor Dr. Aung Myint
Director General (Retired) of MU
Director of Traditional Medicine
Minister of Health
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Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I’m very proud of our ethnic.
Dear Victoria,
We all are so much pleased to learn a lot (both joint seminar and exhibition). These were the first experience for us. Thank you very much for your fabulous exhibition that was really successful more than we expected and we all cannot stop to retelling about you and your exhibition all the time. We all would like to have a chance to organize like this collaborative works in the future. My Warm Wishes,
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Dr. Nyunt Nyunt Win
Professor of Anthropology, MU
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Dear Victoria,
I wish to say how inspiring it was artistically and mentally to work with you. I would also like to express my warmest thanks to everyone who made this exhibition happen and planned it all. I really believe that events like these make people closer and more understanding of each other cross-culturally.
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Stephen Zau Zin Myant
3rd year student, Anthropology, MU
stephenlahpai@gmail.com
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