People have different significant characters and hobbies. But, I think, you will find it surprising if two persons have the same hobby. We found this significance in the “Mind” art exhibition. “Mind” is exhibited by the artists U Myint Thein and Ma Thida. Their artistic name is “Quee” and “Thida”. They are husband and wife and their choice of paintings are the same. All their pictures are mainly of movements of women and children. Especially, they artistically embellished the attachment between mothers and her offspring in all strata of life. By observing these pictures, you will be able to get a variety of feelings. Their pictures depict the Myanmar culture and also have a sense of Chinese culture in their style

The Chinese style paintings of U Myint Thein that seized the audience’s fancy are…

(1) Interview (foreigner artist from YIEC )

(2) Interview (Myanmar student from YIEC)

“In this painting, you can clearly see the expression of sorrow in the younger brother’s face and the expression of his elder sister, who is protecting him. I think, if the background of the painting was painted with a dark right-scene, this painting will have a more meaningful deep expression”.

(3) Interview (Myanmar student from YIEC)

“In this painting, the light falling on the platform seems to give warmth to the baby. That’s why, I have the feeling that the child seems happy and free from danger, under the protection of nature”.

This painting is the portrait of U myint Thein’s mother, whom he has drawn from what he recalled from his childhood. She had struggled and looked after her children through her whole life. U Myint Thein, who always respects and pay gratitude to his parents, is now a successful businessman.

Quee’s talk

“Painting has been my hobby since my childhood. When I attended Pathein University, I had my paintings printed in the magazine published by the University. My mentors are U Win Pe Myint, who taught us both the art of painting after our marriage, and U Min Wai Aung, who helped us a lot to display our paintings at the art exhibitions. Every child, whether he is poor or rich, is simple and innocent. Thus, Ma Thida and I want to depict these natures in our paintings. That’s why, we try to depict the fact we want to depict in our painting, significantly”.

Among the paintings, displayed at “Mind”, you will be able to witness the innocent eyes of the children together with their emotions such as their happiness, their sorrow, light-mindedness, youthful spirits, their anxieties and their strength. Artist Ma Thida, desire to portray the human spirit in all aspects, and her brushwork is very delicate and strong. To paint a portrait that shows life in it, it is needed to choose the right, important behaviour.

Here, Ma Thida has painted the eyes and smiles of a foreigner, and created a life-like feeling to the painting with her artistic skills. Painting has been Ma Thida’s life-long hobby.

Ma Thida’s talk

“My mentors are ……. U Thaung Han, who taught me while I was still in middle school. After I married U Myint Thein, I learnt more about this as we have the same hobby. And, I took lessons from Daw Sandar Khine at our house before the birth of our son. After the birth of our son, we continued to learn from U Win Pe Myint. Since the birth of their son, U Myint Thein and Ma Thida painted many paintings of pretty babbies. From that time onwards, their paintings depicted the attachments between mother and child, based on maternal love. Furthermore, their paintings depicted the behaviours and characters of children from all strata of life

(1) Interview (foreigner artist from YIEC)

(2) Interview (Korea student from YIEC)
This painting is of Ma Thida’s son, “Lon Lon”, painted on silk cloth. Even at a glance, you can sense the innocence in the eyes of the child in this painting.

(3) Interview (Thai student from YIEC)
In this silk painting, Ma Thida depicts a child, playing to her heart’s content. By viewing this painting, one can recall his/her childhood. Because the painter has added on apple with the child, the painting becomes more life-like.

(4) Interview (Myanmar student from YIEC)
I like this painting very much. You can see the artist has used the colour yellow, which represents warmness, as the dominant colour in this painting. The child’s face becomes more brighter since the yellow colour behind the child’s head is darker than usual. And as the child is imitating on adult, you will find it very charming and amusing”.

You can vividly see the artist’s excellent imagination and the intricate detail in this ASEAN Painting Contest