Artist Talk with Nge Lay and Aung Ko

Friday 22 July 2016, 6:30pm
In English with Khmer translation

A talk by Pisaot artist-in-residence Nge Lay and husband artist Aung Ko who will share about their respective art practices as well as their joined community project at their home village in Myanmar.

Nge Lay (b. 1979, Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar) works with installation, sculpture, performance, video and photography. Usually based on self-reference and history, most of her works are reflections of her perceptions of Myanmar’s prevailing society. Nge Lay’s solo exhibitions include "The Relationship between the Great Nothing," at Youkobo Art Space, Tokyo, 2011. Select group exhibitions include Dhaka Art Summit (2016); The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT8); at Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane (2015-2016); "Swimming in Sand; Growing Rice under an Umbrella," at No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne (2014); 2013 Singapore Biennale: “If The World Changed;” and Phnom Penh Photo Festival 2012, at French Institute. Nge Lay was a finalist of the 2011 Sovereign Asian Art Prize. Nge Lay received a BA in Painting from University of Culture, Yangon, in 2003, and a BA in Economics from Yangon East University in 2004.

Aung Ko (b. 1980, Pantaung, Myanmar) works across media including painting, sculpture, installation, performance and video. His works usually center on questioning and critiquing Myanmar’s socio-political reality, through exploration of ritual and hardship. Aung Ko’s solo exhibitions include “Breakfast With My Enemy,” at Primo Marella Gallery, Milano (2013-14); “Who Am I?,” at 3331 Arts Chiyoda, Tokyo (2013-14); and “Aung Ko’s Village,” at Esplanade Jendela (2011). His group exhibitions include 2016 International Film Festival Rotterdam; “Secret Archipelago,” at Palais de Tokyo, Tokyo (2015); “Concept, Context, Contestation,” at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (2013-14); "RiverScapes IN FLUX," in Hanoi, Saigon, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Jakarta and Manila (2012-13); "DEEP S.E.A.," at Primo Marella Gallery, Milan (2012); 4th Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale (2009); and Singapore Biennale 2008. Aung Ko received a BA in Painting from University of Culture, Yangon, in 2002.

Since 2007, Nge Lay and Aung Ko have been co-organizing Thuye’dan Village Art Project, which shares and engages contemporary art with residents in the village. Nge Lay and Aung Ko live and work in Yangon, Myanmar.