Htein Lin
APT9
Born 1966 Ingapu, Myanmar
Lives and works in Yangon, Myanmar
Htein Lin is a pioneer of performance art in Myanmar and also known for his narrative paintings and prints, many of which draw on his experiences as a political prisoner. Religious, political and environmental narratives in his installation and community projects often explore the notion of healing after traumatic events. Htein Lin grew up under a period of oppressive military government. As a young man he was active in the 1988 student movement, which would later lead to his jailing for six years. He lived in the UK from 2006 to 2013 before returning to Myanmar. Using simple materials such as charcoal, soap, clothing and alms bowls, his recent installations and sculptural works address broader issues of environmental disaster, sustainability and rural communities, as well as reflecting on protests, gatherings and ongoing issues facing Myanmar today.
Htein Lin / Myanmar b.1966 / Thabeik Hmauq (detail) 2017 / Monk's bowls, cotton rope / Image courtesy and © Htein Lin
Htein Lin developed his art practice during his incarceration as a political prisoner, at a time when Myanmar was a military dictatorship. During seven years of imprisonment, he carved soap bars, painted on prison uniforms, and used smuggled materials and whatever was at hand – pill packets, broken glass, plastic, razor blades, plates, cigarette lighters. Following his release, Lin continues to use his art to convey the challenging realities of Myanmar to the world.
Thabeik Hmauq 2017 comprises 108 alms bowls — representing rosary beads — to form an oversized Buddhist rosary. ‘Thabeik’ is a word for alms bowl and ‘Hmauq’ is the word for upturn, and the phrase has come to denote a boycott or strike. Its usage developed from the act of a monk refusing to accept alms — a transaction highly valued in Burmese society — and so denying a person an opportunity for spiritual merit. Monks holding alms bowls over their heads became iconic images of the 2007 Saffron Revolution against the military junta. The work also highlights the instrumentalisation of Buddhism by fundamentalist groups in Myanmar today. These groups are accused of inciting hatred and violence towards minorities, such as the Muslim Rohingya people.
