44/ The Last Memory

2011
By Nyein Chan Su
Duration: 9:35 min.
Recommended by Nathalie Anne Johnston

How does this work investigate “hope?”
”What Nyein Chan Su represented for much of the artist community in Yangon was a new beginning. In a time of miltiary dictatorship, he took chances and experimented with his mediums - painting, performance, video, photography, collage - all were his tools used to convey a sense of struggle, survival, and hope in a time of despair in Myanmar. He was steadfast until the end of his life in 2020, and a mentor and inspiration for a young generation in a transitioning country. The Last Memory is the story of the artist's quest for truth, in spite of his religious belief. It is a metaphor for the search for a better future for those in Myanmar.” —Nathalie Anne Johnston

About the work:
“A man is looking for something, maybe an answer to his future? But he does not know what he is looking for. His neighbors ask him, but he remains confused, as his life is dominated by past shadows of his place of living. His faith in his religion is challenged here and I don’t know whether he can find what he is looking for.” —Nyein Chan Su