U Ngwe Gaing – A Brilliant Artist

U Ngwe Gaing – A Brilliant Artist

Kyi Kyi Hla

o       U Ngwe Gaing was a celebrated artist and contemporary of the equally eminent artist U Ba Kyi of whom we have read about in an article of the Myanmar Perspectives Volume II/2002. They are two of the great modern painters of the Myanmar world of art, who have nevertheless incorporated into their works the traditions of Myanmar painting.

o       U Ngwe Gaing's paintings were noted for the meticulous attention to detail, but he was also a prolific and versatile painter working in both oil and water-colour. He excelled in his choice of “poster subjects and settings” according to U Min Naing another noteworthy name in the world of art.

o       U Ngwe Gaing started his career from the bottom and and was obliged to work at many jobs and led a checkered life until he made his mark as a leading artist. His first teacher was U Pho Aung but later became a pupil of the famous artist U Ba Nyan. U Ngwe Gaing was an honest and diligent person who had not a shred of pride and was content with his lot.

o       He painted stage settings for films on the life of “nats” (spirits), religious sagas and other tales of buried treasure guarded by supernatural beings, as well as natural scenery and still life. He was also a commercial poster artist and just rpior to World War II, one of his outstanding posters was the advertisement for the readymade “gaungbaung” (headgear or turban) with the brand name of “Maungt Kyet Theyay” meaning ‘my brother’s grace.’

o       U Ngwe Gaing also painted portraits of which those of President Dr. Ba U,  scholar and writer Major Ba Thaung (Maung Thu Ta), film star War War Win Shwe and publisher and film director Shumawa U Kyaw are most prominent. He travelled the length and breadth of the country, to the Shan State, Mandalay, Dawei, Kawthaung, even to Ranaung, Myeik (which was his birthplace) and Mawlamyaing  to make sketches of subjects that caught his eye which later he would paint in oils or watercolours.

o       In the Shan State Museum are two of his classic works – “The Hopong Springs” and the “The Stately Procession of the Hpaung-Daw-Oo Buddha Images.” In the National Museum in Yangon are displayed some more of his masterpieces which include “the Isle of Myeik”, “Scenic Ranaung”, The Inlay Floating Bazaar,” “Scenic Environs of Dawei,” “Maungmagan” and “Some of our Ethnic Brethren”. Two of his outstanding still lifes, “A Bunch of Bananas” and “Meat and Fish” can also be seen. He also surpasses in his technique of painting oils in thick daubs, a technique that is emulated by many artists now.

o       When there was a movement to stamp out bribery and corruption in the post independence period, U Ngwe Gaing collaborated with famed cartoonist U Ba Gyan in drawing posters that carried powerful and effective messages. He has also recorded the nation’s historic events for posterity in classic works such as “The Battle of Shwedaung,” The Flag Hoisting Ceremony on Independence Day,” “The Panlong Accord,” “The Panglong Conference” and “the Nay Thurein Congress.” No subject or event was too insignificant or of little weight for his brush. So when stage plays became the rage after  WWII, he painted stage settings for the makeshift “Myaing Theatre,”which was then located in the Kandawgyi Park near the Yangon Zoological Gardens.

o       He was also the pioneer of large paintings measuring 60x20 feet. He painted the first in 1963 for the First Workers’ Congress. He returned to his native town of Dawei to work on this painting and it had later to be conveyed by helicopter to Yangon. Among his paintings can also be found those which depicted the daily life of ordinary Myanmar people as well as their hopes and aspirations and these are indeed of great historical value.

o       Among his other works are paintings in oil, of scenes from the Jatakas  that once adorned the walls of the old cinema halls of Shwegon and Myoma. There were paintings of scenes from the age-old stories of Minkutha, Onmar Danti, Maha Zanaka and Wesandra, which were very popular with cinemagoers.

o       He was not only a highly inspired and skilled artist he was truly insightful in his choice of subject. In his religious paintings he depicted the “Buddha’s First Sermon to His Five Disciples” with a background showing the sun half set and the moon half risen, for the Buddha had preached His first sermon at dusk. The picture of the “ the Emanation of Heavenly Rays” and the “Bumapada Mudra” (where the Buddha called upon the Earth to bear witness to His Enlightenment) are some of his outstanding religious paintings which show a deep sensitivity and devotion.

o       Most of U Ngwe Gaing’s paintings, both oils and water colours, were purchased by U Aung Myin, the then proprietor of the Yangon Newspaper for his collection. Another collector was an Indian and owner of the restaurant ‘Hotel de City’ who bought a considerable number of U Ngwe Gaing’s oil paintings.

o       The last of U Ngwe Gaing’s works were a work of merit for his native town of Dawei. He painted a series of scenes from the Jatakas for the “Shwe Mokhti” pagoda where they can still be seen hanging in the covered passageways to the pagoda. It is a collection of valuable paintings, not placed under lock and key, yet it is far from the thoughts of anyone to remove even a single painting.

o       U Ngwe Gaing was granted a study tour of six months to England where he had the opportunity of making copies of Myanmar artifacts, which the British had taken from Myanmar on annexation of the country.

o       In recognition of U Ngwe Gaing’s contribution to the art and culture of the country the Government awarded him the title of “Alinga Kyawswar” the highest accolade for an artist.

o       Acknowledgement: U Min Naing’s article in Myanmar, “U Ngwe Gaing” (1901 – 1967)  

U Ngwe Gaing – A Brilliant Artist