Burma to Myanmar

Showcasing a stunning selection of spectacular objects that have not been widely published or on regular display before, international scholars integrate Myanmar’s material cultures with their histories from a Myanmar-centric point of view.From influential superpower to repressive regime; Myanmar – also known as Burma – has seen dramatic fluctuations in fortune over the past 1; 500 years.Interconnected yet isolated; rich in natural resources such as jade; rubies and teak but with many of its peoples living below the poverty line; Myanmar is a country that defies categorization. Its cultures have been shaped by their engagements with religious networks; expansionist empires and global trade routes from India and China to Africa; the Middle East and Europe. It was once home to different kingdoms; principalities and chiefdoms that interacted with one another and further afield. The colonial period under British rule saw dramatic changes and upon independence in 1948; the various parts of the country were brought together; many for the first time; into a single nation state. Since then Myanmar has been engulfed by long running civil wars.This beautiful book explores Myanmar’s complexities; focusing on the extraordinary and innovative arts of its diverse peoples to create a long history of the region. Featuring objects such as sparkling gems; sumptuous court dress; intricately carved furniture; elaborate silver vessels; satirical cartoons and contemporary art; from the 400s CE to the present day; this book is a testament to the creativity and variety of Myanmar’s many peoples.Table of ContentsForewordsIntroduction – Alexandra Green1. Natural resources and geography – Alexandra Kaloyanides2. Bagan: a cosmopolitan Buddhist kingdom – Thaw Zin Latt; P.P.K. and Alexandra Green3. States and networks: expansion and contraction; 1500–1900 – Alexandra Green4. The British colonial period – Alexandra Green5. The Karen and their textiles: from natural to synthetic dyeing practices – Caroline Cartwright; Joanne Dyer; Diego Tamburini and Alexandra Green6. Myanmar in the world: the Second World War – Maitrii Aung-Thwin and Arthur Swan Ye Tun7. Thinking about minoritised communities – Mandy Sada8. Material culture after independence – Anonymous and Alexandra Green9. Modern and contemporary art activism (1948–present) – Melissa CarlsonAppendixNotesBibliographyList of contributorsAcknowledgementsPicture creditsIndex Read more