The exhibition features 9 of Nyein Chan Su's (NCS) latest works in 2014. Through depicting of nature scenes and architecture –rivers, water reflections, mountains, and temples – as well as humble and tiny human figures in the immense universe, the artist applies bold brushstrokes onto big blocks of energetic colors on his canvas. His practice is strongly rooted in his Burmese identity and culture.

In this series of paintings, NCS emphasizes the color red. In most of his works on show, he applies a solid red as a background color on the canvas, with all other layers and textures on top of the first layer. As he once said, red represents the emotions of blood, sweat, anger, hate, revenge, and fear. Red carries passionate emotions culturally and politically in Myanmar. As one of the three main colors in Myanmar’s new national flag, adopted in Oct 2010, red is meant to symbolize courage and decisiveness; even in the elementary school education in Myanmar, red is associated with political power. Furthermore in Myanmar culture, red, black and yellow are the top three colors used in Burmese festivals. Through his artworks’ color emphasis and compositions, NCS intends to search for Burmese’s identity and culture in the perspective of its traditions, new political changes, revolution as well as its education and heritage.

-Richard Koh Fine Art

Image: © Nyein Chan Su
Courtesy of the artist and Richard Koh Fine Art