We Fight We Win
4 August 2022Executive Summary
An exhibition of contemporary art featuring 20+ artists from Myanmar was held in London between the 25th and 28th August 2022, at the Camden Open Air Gallery, with curation by Mayco Naing, Isabelle Ha Eav and A New Burma. This activity successfully brought the voices and messages of artists (both in country, and in exile) to audiences outside of the country. Over the course of the 4 days, approximately 1000 visitors to the exhibition engaged with the work in person, and online news about the event and works reached a total of approx. 200,000 people online located in the UK and also Myanmar. Key posts had a reach of 207,410. A total of £4807.24 was raised through the sale of merchandise, food, drink, postcards and fine art prints.
Objectives and Outputs
The exhibition encouraged reflection, discussion, and engagement with various important issues, including democracy, censorship and freedom of expression, creativity in crisis, violence, suffering, injustice, LGBTQ discrimination, women’s leadership and empowerment. It provided a much-needed space for young Burmese diaspora (including many long-term residents, recently exiled youth, and youth who traveled to attend the exhibition) to engage with what is going on in Myanmar in a manner that resonates with them (contemporary multi-media content, relatable issues, an atmosphere of solidarity and creativity) and which allows them to also communicate what is happening to their network of peers (including local non-Burmese). Many young Burmese returned to the exhibition throughout its course, bringing more people with them. The exhibition also attracted many researchers, academics, cultural practitioners and INGO staff who were formerly working in, or are currently working on Myanmar.
There was an overwhelmingly positive response from participants about the event, and many enquiries about follow up activities, next events and how they can get involved.
All the funds raised from this exhibition will go directly to the artists in Myanmar, displaced artists in Thai–Myanmar Border, and to IDP camps in Thai–Myanmar Border (Mae Sot).
