Myanmar’s Struggle Captured in Bangkok Art Exhibition

Bangkok’s Art and Culture Centre will today host the opening of The Coup Years, a photography and art exhibition chronicling five years of Myanmar’s resistance since the military seized power in February 2021.

The event begins with a panel discussion at SEA Junction featuring independent journalist Mon Mon Myat, ALTSEAN-Burma founder Debbie Stothard, and James E. Rodehaver, who leads the Myanmar team at the UN Human Rights Office. Their conversation will set the tone for the exhibition, exploring the human cost of the coup and the resilience of those who continue to fight for democracy.

Following the talk, guests will gather for a reception with food, drinks, and live performances by Myanmar artists Su Myat, Pho San and Daniel Saw, underscoring the role of culture in sustaining hope amid repression.

Curated by Yit and Ji Ji, the exhibition runs until 8 February and presents a stark visual record of Myanmar’s turmoil. Photographers Sis Min Naing, Loki, Phoenix and Ko Kaung capture scenes from the early protests to the ongoing armed resistance, while musical arrangements by Daniel Saw weave in the voices of citizens silenced by the junta.

The backdrop is grim. Since the coup, more than 7,600 people have been killed and over 30,000 arrested, according to monitoring groups. Nearly 1,000 children are among the dead, and thousands more have been detained. The UN estimates that 3.6 million people have been displaced, many fleeing forced conscription and violence.

Yet amid these figures, The Coup Years seeks to highlight the indomitable spirit of Myanmar’s people. From street protests to underground networks, the exhibition documents not only suffering but also courage, creativity and the determination to reclaim democracy.

Organised by SEA Junction, a Thai non-profit dedicated to fostering regional understanding, the exhibition is free to the public, with donations welcomed to support its activities.

For visitors, it offers more than art: it is a reminder of the ongoing struggle just across Thailand’s border, and a call to bear witness to a nation still fighting for its future.

-2026-01-27