U Tin Aye, Untitled (Custard Apples), 1998

Watercolour on paper
38.5 x 51.5 cm (unframed)
Condition: Good, with slight stains on the verso.

-

U Tin Aye (Burmese, 1940-2012) was a prominent painter and educator, renowned for his mastery of watercolour and his pivotal role in shaping modern art in Myanmar. He helped redefine Burmese watercolour painting into a brighter, more expressive medium. A pupil of masters including Sayar Saung, Ngwe Gaing, and others, he brought together traditional Burmese teaching and Western techniques to forge his distinctive luminous style.

He served as a teacher and eventually headmaster at the State School of Fine Arts in Mandalay, led advanced studies abroad (Munich, West Germany, England, Italy) and directed cultural performances internationally in the 1970s. His later appointment as chairman of the Myanmar Traditional Artists and Artisans Association preceded his passing in 1997. Many of his mural works, such as those at Shwedagon and Maha Wizaya Pagodas, as well as watercolour masterpieces like The Kyaik Thalan Pagoda of Mawlamyaing and A Typical Hut remain highly regarded.

I like the choice of placing a fresh custard apple against the hues of a dead, pockmarked lead. The blend of colours is unexpectedly sublime.
-

(Photographed in July 2025)