Search

A concrete cantilevered building against blue sky and green landscaping

A large green wall with oil paintings in gold frames above a tiled floor

A museum interior space with paintings and concrete walls and stairs

A concrete-walled lobby with windows, a tiled floor, and a circular desk

The top of a concrete spiral staircase with a wooden railing

A tall tree is the focal point of a garden in between two concrete buildings

About arrow_back

Admission for everyone is always free! Check here for current hours and more.

A concrete cantilevered building against blue sky and green landscaping

Collections arrow_back

The Johnson Museum holds more than 40,000 works in its collection from around the world.

A large green wall with oil paintings in gold frames above a tiled floor

Exhibitions arrow_back

Check out what’s on view this season at the Museum and look back through our history.

A museum interior space with paintings and concrete walls and stairs

Events arrow_back

Free events for everyone, plus special programs for students, families, and more!

A concrete-walled lobby with windows, a tiled floor, and a circular desk

Learn arrow_back

The Johnson Museum actively contributes to the intellectual life of our campus and community.

The top of a concrete spiral staircase with a wooden railing

Support arrow_back

Help the Johnson Museum continue its legacy by making a gift today.

A tall tree is the focal point of a garden in between two concrete buildings

Faces of Change: Portraits of Myanmar’s Democratic Awakening

Faces of Change:
Portraits of Myanmar’s Democratic Awakening

Aug 31, 2021–Sep 26, 2021
Three framed color photographs on a white wall

Artist’s Statement

On February 1, 2021, Myanmar’s army nullified the results of the November 2020 election, seized power, and abruptly sank the coup-prone country back into a retrograde military dictatorship. Myanmar’s political leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was arrested.

The army chief, Min Aung Hlaing, declared himself dictator. The military generals who throttled Myanmar’s fledgling democratic experiment in the wee hours of February 1 may not have counted on a major public backlash against their coup.

For the first few days, Myanmar’s population of more than 54 million people seemed stunned into silence. But by the fourth day, after police raids and arrests began, people flooded the streets in peaceful protests led by the youth of this conservative, largely Buddhist nation. Even older citizens—who had endured five decades of ruthless military dictatorships and had tasted some freedoms during the past decade of hybrid democratic rule—joined in resisting with exuberant fury.

Within days, the military and police began shooting unarmed protesters. As of August 18, 2021, there are 1,007 people who have been confirmed killed and 5,747 people who have been detained, according to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners. It has been reported in international and local media outlets that some women activists in custody have been tortured and sexually harassed.

Faces of Change presents intimate portraits of brave people who have resisted: individuals who are participating in the revolution and—as strangers acting in unison—radically changing their country’s history.

This gallery of ordinary people—at an extraordinary juncture in their lives—aims to bring a needed counterpoint perspective to the imagery of Myanmar’s Spring Revolution as seen on the news.

—Min Ma Naing

A double exposed photograph of a Burmese woman in a hat and sleeveless dark dress with an image of protesters and military members near the Sule Pagoda in Burma

Create an account

Please take a moment to fill your information to create your account.

Reset Password

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password.

Save Artwork

Save the artwork in any of your exhibitions or create a new one.

You have not made any exhibitions.

Create New Exhibition

Create New Exhibition