U Sein Myint

U Sein Myint was born in 1945 in the Sagaing Hills in Upper Myanmar near the City of Mandalay. After completing high school, he continued his studies until he reached the final year at the Mandalay Arts and Science University majoring in Myanmar language and literature. As a student of the arts, Sein Myint apprenticed himself to well-known personalities in the world of Myanmar art such as Paw Oo Thet, U Win Pe and U Lu Tin. He continued to improve and hone his skills by studying and apprenticing under master craftsmen like U Aye Myint (Master of traditional Myanmar design) and U Win Maung (Tampawadi). Around 1985, he became interested in the art and craft of traditional Myanmar tapestry and decided to pursue it as a medium of expression.

In 1987, his water color painting titled "Irrawaddy River Scene" won a prize at the International UNICEF Painting Competition and Sein Myint donated his prize money to the UNICEF Children's Fund. In 1989-1990, his tapestry embodying traditional Myanmar art was selected to grace the walls in the main chamber of the United Nations Headquarters building in New York City. In 1994, he was again awarded a prize for infusing folk art with creativity by the Myanmar Government. In 1995, he was appointed by the Government of the Union of Myanmar as an expert and consultant on traditional Myanmar folk arts. In 1996, he was invited by the East-West Center in Honolulu Hawaii to hold an exhibition on traditional Myanmar tapestries and to lecture on the subject. In the same year, he was invited to the UK by the program of cultural exchange.

To see artworks by U Sein Myint, click here