My name is Wunna Zaw and I was born in Yangon, Burma in 1979.
I left my home in Rangoon during 2002 to seek a better livelihood for myself and my family that I left behind in Burma. Whilst in Mae Sot I found work as a commercial artist with the G.S Art Company, producing gem stone pictures for the Thailand and overseas markets. It is here that I discovered a genuine passion for art and became interested in developing my own work.
Soon afterwards, I was introduced to Nay Thit, a well known local artist who had previously exhibited at Borderline. For many months Nay Thit acted as my mentor, teaching me about composition, colour, texture and light. I experimented with a number of mediums before finding my niche with acrylic and watercolour paint.
I have learned a great deal from my own artistic journey, and now share this with children local migrant schools, teaching art classes, allover Mae Sot. In addition I give private art classes and occasionally have assignments to make illustrations for publications. One project was to cycle across town to draw scenes to be used for a locally produced map of Mae Sot.
My main motivation now and in the future, is to help other refugee people. I want to represent our stories, memories, hopes and dreams within my work and by doing so remind the outside work of our struggles.
I am thrilled to be able to share my own work and that of my fellow artists with you here at Borderline.
Mae Sot, September 27, 2015
Wunna Zaw
Wunna Zaw factfile
Born: | 1979 Yangon (Rangoon) |
Started: | 2001 |
Studied under: | Nay Thit (now in Norway) |
Occupation: | Artist and Art Teacher |
Favorite Medium: | Watercolour & acrylic |
Exhibitions: |
June 2005 Local artist exhibition at Borderline GalleryAugust 2005 KSNG Anniversary Exhibition, Borderline GalleryOctober 2005 Homa Dema, Vidya Gallery, Seattle, USAOctober 2005 Here & There, Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver, CanadaAugust 2006 Reflective in Life, Borderline GallerySeptember 2007 Color Stream, Borderline GallerySeptember 2008 Eyes on the Future, Snow City, Alaska, USAOctober 2008 Journey into a Spiritual Heartland, Borderline GalleryOctober 2009 The Tunnel of Light, Borderline GalleryOctober 2010 Artist and his Dancer, Borderline GallerySeptember 2011 Striking Beauty, Borderline GallerySeptember 2012 Timeless Beauty, Borderline GallerySeptember 2013 Daylight Exposure, Borderline GalleryJune 2014 Expressions from the Thai-Burma Border, Sangdee Gallery, Chiang Mai, ThailandOctober 2014 Radiance of Lives, Borderline GallerySeptember 2015 From Sketches to Impression, Borderline Gallery |
Membership: | Borderline Gallery |