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Hello!

I will be showing my work on child monks in Myanmar as part of the Month of Photography Asia at the SMU Gallery from June 20 – July 19.

Join me for the opening on June 20 from 6pm onwards if you’re in town! Really honoured to have National Geographic Steve McCurry As the Guest-of-Honour.

About OUT OF FOCUS

An annual component of the Month of Photography Festival is Out of Focus, an exhibition aimed at presenting new photography talent in Singapore. Each year, the Festival exhibits emerging Singapore-based photographers. Out of Focus 2009 presents the works of three emerging Singaporean photographers: Jean Loo, Muhammad Nuruddin Bin Ahmad Fuad (Dyn), Then Chih Wey. Each of the three photographers explored Asia in their own way. In Jean Loo’s series, “Saved by Buddha”, she documents the ethnic minority children in Myanmar who have been handicapped by their country’s internal strife and who find a safe haven in monasteries and the opportunity to receive an education. Dyn has chosen to engage literally in his own backyard an open field near where he lives and spent many nights photographing the environment. This series of long night exposures questions the permanence of space and reality versus fiction, challenging the viewer to reconsider his/her environment. Then Chih Wey decided to step away from the daily grind to embark on what became an 8-month trip across South and Central Asia. His thoughtful yet visually poetic images give us an insight into Bangladesh, Xinjiang, Kazakhstan and Iran.

About SAVED BY BUDDHA: SULAMUNI’S SEVEN

This is the story of seven young novice monks from the Palaung hill tribe who live as novice monks in the Sulamuni Brick Monastery in Mandalay.

For most of Myanmar’s rural population, monastic education is an escape route from the fields of poverty into a better future. Living a simple life guided by Buddhist teachings, the boys are provided with free food, lodging and education till they turn 16. This way, they are ensured a shelter from the harsh conditions beyond the walls of the monastery.

Coming from a privileged nation where there was no question about access to basic education, I was humbled by the effort undertaken by the network of monks and people scattered across the country who are all trying their best to provide each underprivileged child with a chance at improvement.

In the grander scheme of things, this is their way of sowing the seeds of change as they educate these children who hold the key to Myanmar’s future. Having survived a destructive socialist rule only to end up under the tight control of a power-hungry military junta since 1988, the country’s walk to freedom is nowhere near the end. The light at the end of the tunnel, though, still shines for those who believe.

EXHIBITION DETAILS

Date: 20 June 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 6pm onwards
Guest of honour: National Geographic Photographer Steve McCurry
Guest of honour arrival: 630pm
Venue: SMU Gallery / Singapore Management University, School of Economics, 90 Stamford Road.
Nearest MRT station: Dhoby Gaut MRT
Public parking is available within the SMU building and nearby at The Cathay and Plaza by the Park buildings.
Dress code: Smart Casual
Exhibition dates: 21 June – 19 July / 12pm – 7pm. Closed on Sundays

Hope to see you there :)