Icons of Courage
I chose the name “Icons of Courage” for this project because like facial tattooing performed on Chin girls, the leg tattooing was probably the most important rite-of-passage for young Bama, Shan and Kayin men for many centuries.
It also served as a visual expression of courage and devotion to buddhist faith. This cultural practise was suppressed under British Colonial rule and basically vanished after Burma gained its independency.
The tradition of leg tattoing seemed to have survived in a few villages in Kayin State longer than else where as the last leg tattooing was performed in the 1960s.
2018-19 Solo Exhibition at Goethe-Institute Myanmar (21.12.18 - 09.01.2019)
2019 Works featured in the exhibition “Tattoo’d America” at the Vegas Pop Exhibition Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, US
2019 Featured at Yangon International Photo Festival
2024 Solo Exhibition “Icons of Courage - The last Kayin men with traditional leg tattoos” at the The Round House | The Culture Hub in Yangon, Myanmar (January 27-30).
Exhibition Flyer developed by The Round House @ Royal Kandawgyi Lake, Yangon, Myanmar
Exhibition Portfolio
