Critical Dialogue with Chaw Ei Thein

These past two weeks have proven to be an exciting yet possibly nerve racking range of exposure for Chaw Ei Thein. A collaboration between freeDimensional and the Levermore Global Scholars program at Adelphi University is attempting to shed light on Chaw's story and artwork to raise awareness for people like you and me who might like to consider ourselves global citizens. Last Friday On February, 26th and Thursday, March 4 Chaw, a visual and performance artist, revealed her captivating and adventurous story as an artist and discussed her personal frustrations with the political and social unrest in her home country of Burma. Students of the Levermore Global Scholars(LGS) program were fortunate to be involved in both events.

The first event took place during an opening at the Soapbox Gallery in Brooklyn where her latest installation, "Bed", is shown in conjuction with blown up sketch paintings by Brad Darcy. A group of LGS scholars found our way to the gallery and spent half an hour before the gallery opening to gain perspective on the social incongruities in Burmese culture, especially those centered around sex trafficking. "Bed" is literally a twin size black metal bed frame fitted with a red pepper mattress. Draping the bed is a black mesh mosquito net and above shines a singular light. The walls are black, the mood is dark and sensuous. Chaw explained to us how the idea first came to materialize itself when she was food shopping and ran across a lot of red peppers. She explained how to her red peppers represents spiciness and heat yet to an informed viewer red peppers are known to be sweet and far from spicy. Through these diverse emotions, Chaw hopes to convey the many thoughts, emotions, and events that occur on a bed. For example; in bed you have some of your most restful and unrestful nights. Its a place for deep thought or no thought at all. It It seemed to be her intention to capture a universal audience because a bed's use is consistent between cultures.

Chaw further explained "Bed" and other works of hers at a Critical Dialogue hosted at Adelphi University last Thursday. The conversation was held at Adelphi University's Manhattan Center as part of a speaker series co-hosted by freeDimensional and Adelphi University's Levermore Global Scholars (http://www.adelphi.edu/levermorescholars/). The discussion was led by Shaun Randol, founder and editor of "The Mantle" http://www.mantlethought.org/, an up and coming website that seeks to encourage "emerging voices from around the world to participate in the shaping of social and political discourse." His interview with Chaw will soon be featured on The Mantle's website. During their conversation, Chaw explained how she has come to reside in New York. She begins her story as a child in Burma. Her father was a painter but she went to school for law. She dropped plans to become a lawyer when her friend, Htein Lin, was incarcerated. While in prison, Lin, managed to smuggle over 300 paintings depicting the cruelties he and his fellow prisoners endured in prison. As soon as he was released Chaw accompanied Htein Lin to London where his work was put on display. Chaw and Htein were told not to return because of the work that Htein complied behind the Burmese government's back. They have done several performances together but Chaw now works alone. She hopes to return to her home country but fears this will not be possible until the 2010 elections in May. Because of Chaw's legal background, alot of her work is politically charged and she fears her messages will be read as a political disturbance and not an artistic expression.

After a question and answer session at the end of the dialogue I floated across some concluding remarks regarding the discussion. I among others were truly captivated by Chaws appearance and graceful poise. She could talk about disheartening experiences with a smile on her face while you smiled and nodded back but still at the end of it all she was able to strike a nerve that made you uneasy.