Episode #77: Revolution as Art
This is the fifth show in the “Love Letters to Myanmar” series. Past shows have explored a variety of topics, such as the role of Burmese Buddhist meditation in practitioners worldwide, the experiences of Burmese exiles abroad, and voices of foreign travelers and expats. In this current show, the focus is on the role of artists in the democracy movement.
That creativity intersects with political activism is not a new idea, nor is it particular to the on-going situation in Myanmar. The 2nd century Roman philosopher, Atticus, is reported to have written, “All art is in revolution against tyranny.” This quote points to how artists are wired just a little differently than everyone else, and that at any time and place, art can be used as a means of resistance against inequity, while promoting freedom in its own way.
At the present moment, the Burmese people are in the middle of a life-or-death struggle against an organized military that is attacking, shooting, bombing, raping, abducting, torturing, and killing their friends and family every day for the past year, and with no end in sight. Artists are now in the forefront of that movement, which insists upon basic human rights, dignity, and freedom. But in such dire circumstances, one may wonder, how could anyone possibly have the time and safe space to create art? And yet, that exactly what is happening; far from being a luxury to pursue when times are safe, artistic inspiration is essential in this struggle!
The first guest is Aye Win. He is the producer of the latest album from Rap Against Junta, titled “Dickcouncil.” Aye Win assembled a dozen hip hop artists from across the country to spit rhymes calling out the military while helping the people keep their spirits up during these difficult times. In fact, the entire soundtrack for this episode features songs from this album.
Next up is May. Regular listeners will immediately recognize her voice, as she has so eloquently been reading aloud short poems, letters, and stories at the start of many of the past episodes. In addition to the power she brings to the spoken word, she has been drawing dozens of portraits of people around the world, with proceeds going entirely to her organization’s fundraising mission to help people within the Civil Disobedience Movement. As May also presently lives in Japan, she shares the responses of Japanese people to the coup, as well as life among Burmese expats and exiles there.
The final guest is Alex. An Australian who undertook the normal backpacking tour across Myanmar several years ago, he was so taken with the country that he returned with a friend to help a rural school building project. There, Alex was tasked with creating murals on the new walls going up, and he fell back on this same talent when the coup hit. Living in Montreal at the time, a city with a well-known art scene featuring murals and graffiti on nearly every corner, he and a friend designed a mural depicting the country and showing his support for the democracy movement, with a central tribute to Angel, a young woman who was tragically killed early on in Mandalay.
This episode should not be seen as conclusive in its commentary on the role of art and artists during the democratic resistance in Myanmar, but rather as part of an ongoing conversation. Indeed, many of our past as well as upcoming episodes also explore this theme in detail. For example, our most recent show focused on Darko of the indie band Side Effect, and previously included discussions with Kyaw Kyaw from the punk band Rebel Riot, and the rapper 882021 from Rap Against Junta. And the beloved underground artist Bart Was Not Here, who creates comics, paintings, and sculpture and is currently in exile in Paris, will appear on an episode in the near future.
Listeners may also remember Insight Myanmar’s collaboration with GM4MD in sponsoring an art auction earlier in the year, with all proceeds going to Myanmar. And good news, there will be another art auction coming up in December, so stay tuned for more information on that. To give a sneak preview now, some of the art being offered will be created by CDMers in hiding… displaying yet another interesting chapter of this intersection of art and revolution.
Earlier a 2nd century Roman philosopher was quoted, who evokes a similar sentiment to that of a well-known, contemporary voice, Albert Einstein. Einstein said, “The revolution introduced me to art, and in turn, art introduced me to the revolution!” While listeners have already been well-introduced to the democratic revolution underway in Myanmar, it is our hope that this episode may share more about the great art being produced in resistance to the Tatmadaw and their cruelty.