Exploring the work of one of Myanmar’s most talented and successful contemporary artist. Fine Collectibles Gallery presents the artist Khin Zaw Latt, winner of the Young Contemporary Artist Award 2024 by Thai University Maha Sarakham
Khin Zaw Latt was born in Myanmar in 1980 in the delta village Laputta. After graduating from the National University of Art and Culture in Yangon in 1998, he became an art teacher for children. He won the Myanmar Contemporary Art Award in 2008, and in 2011 he won the first Myanmar National Portrait Award with a painting of his daughter. In 2024 he was awarded Young Contemporary Artist by Thai University Maha Sarakham.
Khin’s Buddha Series includes the most noticeable artworks among all before 2020. Buddha traditions and related religious practices are deeply rooted in the culture of Myanmar, and this cultural heritage emerges in Khin’s art. His studies in a monastery from 2002-04 also contributed to making Buddha an important inspiration for his paintings.
Khin views Buddha as a deeply spiritual, philosophical and morally correct man. He follows Buddha’s teaching because he sees how beneficial they are to society in their offering of philosophical guidance to people.
In approaching this series, Khin informs us that he divided Buddha’s paintings into five stages, according to the different colors and forms of representation. Stages four and five are characterized by a Buddha painted in dark colors in the background of the work, covered with either warm tones or gold to create an abstract effect. The use of gold was inspired by Myanmar tradition of worshiping objects of veneration with gold leaves. In stage three the color white appears, in the form of flowers adorning the image of Buddha. In these stages tradition and modern abstraction are deeply intertwined.
Khin’s newest series “Past and Present” brings more abstract elements to buddhism. Here Buddha is represented as a circle of blue or green light. This monochromatic background symbolizes Buddha’s past life. The present instead is represented by the white or red flowers painted in vivid colors. These paintings are a visual representation of Myanmar tradition to present flowers and fruits to Buddha in the belief that he is still alive, although he passed away more than 2500 years ago. “Past and Present” shows how Buddhism represents for the people in Myanmar a glimmer of hope.
Beside its cultural and religious traditions, Myanmar’s current situation is also an important source of inspiration for Khin’s art. In 2022, Khin felt the need to give a visual representation to how there must be balance and harmony in life. Titled “Harmony”, Khin started by painting random streaks of colors on the canvas. As one brushstroke added next to the other, the final result led to a complex but harmonious whole.
