A Day in the Life: Kyaw Htoo Bala

‘Tales’ and Monologue Art Gallery

A Day in the Life is a series by A&M where we invite artists to share a day in their life through images accompanied by brief descriptions.

Kyaw Htoo Bala.

This month, meet Kyaw Htoo Bala (b. 1992), an artist from Yangon, Myanmar. His ongoing series, Tales (2021-now), is inspired by everyday observations. Bala tells stories through a variety of techniques, from printmaking and paper cutting to collage and drawing. Beyond his artistic pursuits, Bala is also the founder of Monologue Art Space in Yangon, Myanmar, and Monologue Art Gallery in Chiang Mai, Thailand. 

Find out more about Tales and Bala's journey in running Monologue Art Space in this feature.

Installation view of artworks at the studio. Image courtesy of Kyaw Htoo Bala.

Currently I am working on a series called Tales that started in late 2021. My clearest and happiest childhood memories are about the stories that my grandfather used to tell me. It is from that time that I inherited my taste for reading. Years later, I realised that the stories reflected the social and political climate of the time. I try to remember the feelings and emotions I had as a child. Today, as an artist, I am interested in creating my own stories based on the reflection of personal events in life.

Installation view at S.E.A. Focus 2023. Image courtesy of Intersections Gallery.

I rarely rely on a singular technique when crafting my artworks. Typically, I prefer integrating multiple techniques to bring my creations to life. In my most recent pieces titled Tales, I merged printmaking, paper cutouts, drawing, and collage, employing handmade Shan paper, acrylic, and ink on canvas in the process.

In the studio. Image courtesy of Kyaw Htoo Bala.

Work in progress. Image courtesy of Kyaw Htoo Bala.

My artworks draw inspiration from the individuals and occurrences in my surroundings. I am influenced by what I observe, hear, and comprehend. The stimuli for my work arise from the contemplation of events unfolding before my eyes. At times, my art takes on a raw and unrefined aesthetic, occasionally conveying sarcasm, humor, sorrow, and even an inexplicable senselessness.

Monologue Art Gallery in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Image courtesy of Kyaw Htoo Bala.

During my teenage years, I was employed at Studio Square, an artists-run gallery that I greatly admired. The experience fueled my aspiration to establish my own artist-run gallery or art space when the opportunity arose. In 2021, I realised this dream by founding Monologue Art Space in Yangon, Myanmar. Subsequently, in 2023, I expanded it with Monologue Art Gallery in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which currently focused on featuring emerging artists from Myanmar. Looking ahead, Monologue aspires to represent and support emerging artists from across Southeast Asia.

Follow Monologue Art Space on Facebook here.