From September 21 to November 3, 2024, the Fondazione Ragghianti in Lucca is hosting the exhibition Burma. The Art of Sawangwongse Yawnghwe between Burma and Europe, a solo exhibition of Burmese artist Sawangwongse Yawnghwe, known as Sawang. The exhibition, curated by Max Seidel and Serena Calamai and realized with the support of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca and the partnership of the Kunsthistorisches Institut of Florence, features more than sixty works by the Burmese artist: his creations reflect the complexity of a country, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), torn apart by conflict, recounting the Burmese drama with an artistic language that dialogues with the history and culture of Europe.
Sawang depicts the tragedies that have marked Burma in recent decades with a highly symbolic vision, often inspired by the etchings of Francisco Goya. His works do not simply document the conflict between democracy and tyranny that has plagued the country for more than half a century, but are intended to viscerally express the suffering of an oppressed people. Born in a rebel-controlled area in Shan State, Sawang brings to his canvases the experiences of his own family: his grandfather, Sao Shwe Thaik, was Burma’s first president after British independence but was killed in the 1962 military coup. His father and grandmother, in response, founded a resistance movement. Sawang, who grew up in exile, has lived between Thailand, Canada and the Netherlands, where he now resides.
