political art project
ARTIST STATEMENT
Kaite McNally
On August 15th of this year, Burmese anti-government protests began after the ruling military junta decided to remove fuel subsidies in Burma (also known as the Union of Myanmar) causing the price of gas to double in price in less than a week. This action shocked the public, who were then sparked into protest. Students and those of opposing political activists led the protests. On September 18th, 2007, thousands of Buddhist monks joined the protests until the government took harsher actions against those involved on September 26th. Military force was called against the non-violent protesters, imposed a dusk till dawn curfew on all Burmese citizens. Though their government only reports 13 protesters killed, the number of casualties is thought to be in the hundreds, made up of monks, politicians, citizens, and even a reporter. Many monks remain in prison.
Currently, the government has attempted to block all websites that would provide outside coverage of the story to the Burmese people.
The military government has been oppressing the people of Burma for over 50 years, and these protests in September have been the biggest since the military coup d’etat in the 1960’s. In May of 1990, the government held free elections for the first time in almost 30 years. Runner Aung San Suu Kyi, the representative for the National League for Democracy, won 392 out of 489 seats. Instead of honoring her elected position, the government annulled it and she was put under house arrest. She has been in captive of the military ever since, sometimes forced to stay in her house, other times not allowed to leave the country, and at times imprisoned in one of the harshest prisons in the country. She is receiving this punishment under the grounds of protecting peace and stability of the country. In all her oppression, she still keeps a positive perspective and is in a constant struggle to inspire her people. She was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.
I chose to do my project on the events that are happening in Burma right now. The first two images are to expose what is happening in Burma right now. One image is a self-portrait as Aung San Suu Kyi, tied up. I am giving the peace sign to show that even under subjugation, San Suu Kyi still holds her head high and promotes a peaceful Burma. I also included (which frustratingly got cut off by the border of the photo) a quote by her, which reads “Peace as a goal is an ideal which will not be contested by any government or nation, not even the most belligerent.” The other image is of a murdered monk, to provide a visual image to emphasize the violence that is happening under the military junta.
The second two images are to comment on the blindness that we as Americans possess. Blindfolded and smiling, the Americans cannot see what is happening and are content with that. The Burmese government has gone so far as to change the name of this struggling country so that the rest of the world cannot connect what is going on. The image with the calendar on it is also to emphasize that we don’t know what is going on. September of 2007 is one of the most important months in the recent history and development of Burma, and our calendars are blank. Nothing matters to us.
I urge you to look at these images and be inspired to do more. Go online and read about what is happening, read the papers, write a letter of encouragement to Aung San Suu Kyi. The more people are informed, the better.
Currently, the government has attempted to block all websites that would provide outside coverage of the story to the Burmese people.
The military government has been oppressing the people of Burma for over 50 years, and these protests in September have been the biggest since the military coup d’etat in the 1960’s. In May of 1990, the government held free elections for the first time in almost 30 years. Runner Aung San Suu Kyi, the representative for the National League for Democracy, won 392 out of 489 seats. Instead of honoring her elected position, the government annulled it and she was put under house arrest. She has been in captive of the military ever since, sometimes forced to stay in her house, other times not allowed to leave the country, and at times imprisoned in one of the harshest prisons in the country. She is receiving this punishment under the grounds of protecting peace and stability of the country. In all her oppression, she still keeps a positive perspective and is in a constant struggle to inspire her people. She was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.
I chose to do my project on the events that are happening in Burma right now. The first two images are to expose what is happening in Burma right now. One image is a self-portrait as Aung San Suu Kyi, tied up. I am giving the peace sign to show that even under subjugation, San Suu Kyi still holds her head high and promotes a peaceful Burma. I also included (which frustratingly got cut off by the border of the photo) a quote by her, which reads “Peace as a goal is an ideal which will not be contested by any government or nation, not even the most belligerent.” The other image is of a murdered monk, to provide a visual image to emphasize the violence that is happening under the military junta.
The second two images are to comment on the blindness that we as Americans possess. Blindfolded and smiling, the Americans cannot see what is happening and are content with that. The Burmese government has gone so far as to change the name of this struggling country so that the rest of the world cannot connect what is going on. The image with the calendar on it is also to emphasize that we don’t know what is going on. September of 2007 is one of the most important months in the recent history and development of Burma, and our calendars are blank. Nothing matters to us.
I urge you to look at these images and be inspired to do more. Go online and read about what is happening, read the papers, write a letter of encouragement to Aung San Suu Kyi. The more people are informed, the better.
