Htein Lin showcases prison art at Birmingham's Ikon Gallery

Htein Lin, a painter from Myanmar, is showcasing his art at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham. His work reflects his experiences in a Myanmar prison, where he was held from 1998 to 2004. During his time in jail, he created hundreds of paintings using prison uniforms as canvases and everyday objects as tools. Htein Lin had to be resourceful in prison. He mentioned, "I had no canvas, no brushes, no paint. But I had to make art." He made friends with prison guards to smuggle in paint and used materials he could find. His exhibition, called "Escape," includes a series of paintings named after the number assigned to him by the Red Cross. One notable work is "Sitting at Iron Gate," which represents the restricted life in prison. Htein Lin and other inmates would communicate through songs and stories while sitting near the gate. He also created self-portraits using just his fingers and a series of plaster casts of former political prisoners' hands. Htein Lin's art is deeply influenced by his life experiences. He was involved in the 1988 pro-democracy movement, which led to his arrest. He faced severe treatment in jail, but art provided him solace. Over the years, he managed to produce around 1,000 artworks, many of which were smuggled out. Currently, Htein Lin cannot attend his exhibition in Birmingham due to passport issues. In 2022, he and his wife were briefly imprisoned for alleged minor offenses. His wife has since been deported, and Htein Lin remains in Myanmar. He expresses concern about the ongoing crisis in his country, which he feels is largely ignored by the world. Despite the challenges, Htein Lin remains hopeful. He has learned the value of patience and believes that change will come. He continues to draw inspiration from Myanmar's struggles, using his art to shed light on the situation.