The Artist

Sai ▇▇▇ is a Burmese multidisciplinary artist. His ongoing work follows the political turmoil that has engulfed Myanmar since the coup of 2021 and the trauma inflicted on his own family. Specifically he explores the unjust narrative of the relationship between his father, who has been held as a political prisoner by the Burmese junta since the coup and his mother, who lives under 24 hour surveillance and in constant fear for her own safety. Sai himself has been in hiding for almost a year and has received numerous warnings that he is being sought by the junta because of his family political connections.

Due to the political situation in Myanmar the name Sai ▇▇▇ is an alias and this bio has been heavily redacted to remove any identifying information.

Exhibitions

In 2022 Sai ▇▇▇ held the solo exhibition Please Enjoy Our Tragedies Exhibition curated by K, Goldsmiths University of London. He has also participated in many group exhibitions such as the Myanmar Exhibition by Agency of Artists in Exile in Paris (2023); World Justice Forum, The Hague (2022); Personal Structures Exhibition, European Cultural Center, Venice Biennale (2022); The 24901-mile-wide Red Line’ Exhibition Curated by C & G Artpartment at Manchester and Sheffield (2022); URGE: the will power that comes from within, organized by Tokyo University of Asia Art Initiative (2022); People’s Revolution Burmese x Thai artists program by Free Arts of BIPAM (Bangkok International Performing Arts Meeting) (2021) and Dohhlay online exhibition by My Justice and British Council (2021).

Selected Work: Trails of Absence

On February 1st, 2021 my father, a pro-democracy leader was taken hostage by Myanmar Junta while my mother was put under house arrest.

During 244 days of hiding, one of the projects I created is named Trails of Absence. The 3 artworks I selected are from this project. I have risked my life several times while creating the project and there is still risk for myself and family by showing it publicly but despite all these risks I believe the world needs to know what happened.

After 2 years of the coup, 3022 people were killed, 19836 people were arrested, 15979 are imprisoned and 144 people have been sentenced to death. 539 children were arrested and 292 children were killed.

Till today, nothing can stop Myanmar regime from executing political prisoners and their crimes against humanity.

The wallpaper installation is made in reference to how our situation has been treated by the world —as if we were merely posters on a street. The fabrics Installation is woven in the style of a traditional Shan carpet. The fabrics used have been smuggled out from Myanmar prisons as they are clothes worn by political prisoners who continue to suffer at the hands of their captors today.

Trails of absence is not just about our family but millions like ours.

Can the world still sweep us under the carpet if we become the carpet?

All these crimes against humanity are swept under where?