Read this page in Myanmar Language   ၿမန္မာဘာသာၿဖင္႔ဖတ္ရန္

Project Background

February 2011, Asia Art Archive launched ‘Open Edit: Mobile Library’, bringing a selection of material from AAA’s collection to Sàn Art in Ho Chi Minh City. In July 2013, AAA further developed the project in Sri Lanka in partnership with Raking Leaves. Though initiated by AAA, this phase of the Mobile Library project will be driven by MARCA and several partners and academics in Myanmar. It is likewise essential that the collaborations result in the enrichment of Asia Art Archive’s physical and digital collection of Myanmar art reference materials. Ultimately, the Mobile Library will provide the network to build interest in the digital archive and mission of MARCA. In Myanmar, political, economic and social transition determine the lives of students, teachers, and artists. Art schools are limited in their resources and isolated by their connection to the Ministry of Culture, a powerfully traditional institution which seeks to foster Myanmar traditional arts alone, rather than invest the teachers and students with the greater artistic community throughout Myanmar. Despite many of the artists having studied at the University of Arts and Culture (the first in the country opened in 1993 in Yangon), they work independently of their alma maters; the relationship far too complicated to engage in any meaningful way. By placing teachers and students in dialogue with the Mobile Library through programming, artist talks, and exhibition, the AAA – MARCA collaboration aims to bridge this gap.

Similarly, building upon the crucial role Myanmar will play in the Asia-Pacific region over the next decades, the books collected and shared by AAA, as well as the international guest speakers, will by and large revolve around the work of artists and academics with Asia as focus. Myanmar’s artistic community has been privy to Western dialogues on the east, translations of Western artists and philosophers, and visual Western histories. More interesting to Myanmar at this time, as head of ASEAN this year, is to focus programming and Mobile Library content around artists living and working in Asia. Through this, MARCA and AAA are able to bring new exchanges of ideas, materials, and symposia – in order to share with Myanmar the goals of AAA, as well as provide a platform for Myanmar’s artistic community the chance to share their history, image and art with Asia’s creative community.

Partnerships and Locations

‘Mobile Library: Myanmar’ is co-presented by MARCA and AAA and will begin November 2014, running through to March 2015. Programming will be be based around several existing institutions and archives in two cities, Yangon, the cultural capital of Myanmar and Mandalay, the home of Myanmar’s traditional arts and the scene of growing influence in Asia.

CHECK OUT OUR  Mobile Library Booklist!

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Program Details: YANGON

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Program: Opening of Mobile Library
Venue: University of Arts and Culture – Yangon
Date: November 15, 2014

Program: Workshop at University with Thamotharampillai Shanaathanan
Venue: University of Arts and Culture – Yangon
Time: 10 am – 12 pm/2 pm -4 pm
Date: November 26 & 27, 2014

Program: Panel Discussion on Archive Fueling Practice with Hammad Nasar (AAA), Zasha Coleh & Sumesh Sharma (Clark House), and Thamotharampillai Shanaathanan (U of Jaffna). Moderated by Nathalie Johnston (MARCA)
Venue: TS1 Gallery
Time: 4 pm
Date: November 28, 2014

Program: Digital Archiving Workshop
Venue: Myanmar Deitta
Time: 11 am
Date: November 29, 2014

Program: Art History Club – Pansodan Gallery
Venue: Pansodan Gallery
Time: Between 5 and 6. Stay tuned at Pandosan Gallery FB Page
Date: Ongoing

Program: Goethe Institute – Myanmar
Venue: Future Goethe Institute, 8, Komin Kochin Rd
Program: Mobile Library – New Zero
Venue: New Zero Art Space
Date: December 15 – January 3, 2015

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Program Details: MANDALAY

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Program: Opening of Mobile Library – Mandalay
Venue: Dreamland/Alin Dagar Art School
Date: January 8 – 31, 2015

Program: Performance Art Workshop with Suu Myint Thein
Venue: Dreamland/Alin Dagar Art School
Date: Mid-January

Program: Mobile Library: University of Art and Culture Mandalay
Venue: University of Art and Culture  – Mandalay
Date: February 1-28, 2015

Program: Mobile Library – Jefferson Center
Venue: Jefferson Center, Mandalay
Date: March 10-30, 2015

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Presented By:

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In Partnership With:

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New Zero Art Space  |  Goethe Institut

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With Support Of:

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