For decades, the country of Myanmar (Burma) has been engaged in periods of civil war and political unrest. The socialist coup that took over in 1962 plunged the country into a period of government oversight and political censorship that is still in play today. While this time of rule in Myanmar is well known, not many people know it is also one of the largest periods of art banning in history. Thanks to a strict 1964 censorship code created by the socialist government, thousands of art pieces have been confiscated for not conforming to the regulations. For decades these pieces of art were hidden from the world by a government that feared their message. But in 2014, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated curator, they finally got to see the light.
As seen in many socialist regimes, artists are one of the first professions to be suppressed. Regimes like the Nazis and Soviet Union would make sure art told the message they wanted it to tell, and destroy anything that deviated. This approach was replicated in the coup of 1962, as the newly elected government of Myanmar quickly instituted rules about what could not be in art. Among these were abstract art, which the government outlawed in favor of realistic paintings of farm life. They also banned the color red (for it’s violent tendencies) and removed painting with too much empty space (as they thought it meant the country was depressing). Nudity and political messages were also restricted in art, and soon paintings of all kinds were being stamped and stored. Unlike the Nazis who destroyed this kind of art though, the government of Myanmar kept them recorded and intact. This is where curator Melissa Carlson found them.
Working with the Foreign Service in Bangkok, Carlson was familiar with the situation going on in Myanmar. Though she was interested, it wasn’t until 2011 that she was able to visit the country. Being very interested in art censorship, Carlson quickly picked up on the Soviet inspired propaganda around art, but was surprised to learn the pieces hadn’t been destroyed. After talking to the local artists, she got the full story on what srt censorship had been like in socialist Myanmar. With this information, Carlson went to John Hopkins to finish her degree, while also taking a special look at Myanmar. After extensive studies of the censorship boards, and just how many pieces were banned during the time period, Carlson formed the plans for an exhibition. With a degree in hand, she went back to Myanmar to ask the local artists for consent to put their pieces in an exhibit. With an overwhelming agreement, the Banned in Burma exhibit was born.
Featuring over 50 works from a variety of artists, the exhibits shines a spotlight on censorship in Myanmar. Exclusively featuring art banned between 1964 and 2011, Banned in Burma conveys just how much suppression was going on in the art world. Varying from pictures of animals in clothes to red abstract shapes, the only trend that is true for every piece is that they are banned. The randomness of genre and style in the artwork perfectly expresses how ridiculous these strict bans were, as they regularly restricted paintings that would seem pretty tame today. In addition to the multiple banned works, the exhibit also showcases paintings by Myanmar painters who were too scared to display. These painters who feared persecution before, were now finally able to finally unveil their art to the world without a worry. The exhibit has received widespread praise from the artworld, as well as those in Myanmar. The censorship board there has yet to comment.
A picture is worth a thousand words, and that is why art continues to be censored. Since this fact doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon, it is up to people like Melissa Carlson to find ways to bring these works out of the shadows. Everybody deserves a chance to have their voice heard, and artists are some of the most important voices to have. When those voices get confined by rules and fear, society has a habit of stagnating instead of progressing. I hope more shows like this come out, so the public is able to hear from voices that have been silenced too long.
