Chuu Wai
This work is about feeling oneself, sensing one's surroundings, and allowing that awareness to spread outward. The heart is the ground — the inner world from which everything grows. From it, a tree and other forms of nature rise and wrap around the woman, holding and supporting her as she stands. She carries her different identities within her, yet she continues to grow. She continues to bloom.
“This is how I see peace: not as the absence of struggle, but as being rooted in your own heart — knowing where you are and who you are, and letting that understanding spread outward.”
Chuu Wai (b. 1992, Myanmar) is a painter and visual artist who holds a BA in IT Engineering from the Technological University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Art from the National University of Arts and Culture. Her paintings reflect her interest in female identity and seek to challenge the boundaries imposed by social norms. Following the military coup in February 2021, Chuu became involved in the peaceful street protests that took place across Yangon. Her "Write for Right" project, which aimed to support the Civil Disobedience Movement, put her life at risk, and she decided to leave the country. She currently lives in exile in France. This experience has significantly influenced her artistic direction. Her work transcends mere documentation, subverting traditional narratives to offer a nuanced portrayal of female identity and resistance. Her work is held in the permanent collection of the British Museum, London, and she is the recipient of the Minority Artist Award from the UNHCR in Geneva. Her work is currently on display at the Museum of Ethnography (MEG) in Geneva. Chuu has participated in numerous exhibitions in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
“Where the Heart Takes Root”, gouache on paper (30x42cm)
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