Htein Lin: Escape
Ikon presents a major solo exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Htein Lin from Myanmar.
Evoking his lifelong commitment to documenting human experience in difficult times, it shows a comprehensive selection of the artist鈥檚 paintings made while he was a political prisoner from 1998 to 2004 on prison uniforms and found textile, alongside drawing, sculpture, video and new work. Htein Lin also makes new artworks with residents of HMP Grendon, Buckinghamshire, exploring prison art in Britain and Myanmar.
Htein Lin鈥檚 new large-scale painting, Fiery Hell (2024), portrays the plight of Myanmar鈥檚 rural populations, including ethnic and religious minorities, caught up in the ongoing civil war. Resilience in the face of decades of oppression in the country is highlighted in A Show of Hands (2013-), an installation of 12 plaster casts of the hands of former political prisoners from Myanmar.
At the centre of the exhibition are over 45 works from the 000235 series (1998-2004). Titled after Htein Lin鈥檚 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) number, they demonstrate the ingenuity and originality of his art made in confinement. Htein Lin鈥檚 visual language is further explored in a selection of drawings from the 1990s and 2000s, shown in public for the first time, while video works give further insight into Htein Lin鈥檚 writing and performance.
Ikon presents a major solo exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Htein Lin from Myanmar.
Evoking his lifelong commitment to documenting human experience in difficult times, it shows a comprehensive selection of the artist鈥檚 paintings made while he was a political prisoner from 1998 to 2004 on prison uniforms and found textile, alongside drawing, sculpture, video and new work. Htein Lin also makes new artworks with residents of HMP Grendon, Buckinghamshire, exploring prison art in Britain and Myanmar.
Htein Lin鈥檚 new large-scale painting, Fiery Hell (2024), portrays the plight of Myanmar鈥檚 rural populations, including ethnic and religious minorities, caught up in the ongoing civil war. Resilience in the face of decades of oppression in the country is highlighted in A Show of Hands (2013-), an installation of 12 plaster casts of the hands of former political prisoners from Myanmar.
At the centre of the exhibition are over 45 works from the 000235 series (1998-2004). Titled after Htein Lin鈥檚 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) number, they demonstrate the ingenuity and originality of his art made in confinement. Htein Lin鈥檚 visual language is further explored in a selection of drawings from the 1990s and 2000s, shown in public for the first time, while video works give further insight into Htein Lin鈥檚 writing and performance.
Artists on show
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The artist, who has an exhibition at Birmingham鈥檚 Ikon Gallery, created a unique body of work from jail uniforms, soap and lids while detained by Myanmar鈥檚 regime.
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