24 November

The world’s biggest wood sculpture exhibition will be held, in conjunction with the eighth sculpture awards ceremony, at the Shwe Pyi Resort in Bago 10 Mile Kone from 29 November to 4 December, according to a press conference at Sayasan Plaza yesterday.

“The exhibition of this year will not be held in Yangon but in Bago 10 Mile Kone. The purpose of the exhibition is to show the world that Myanmar owns the largest numbers of wood sculptures,” said U Kyi Win, the chairman of wood sculpture exhibition and awards ceremony organizing sub-committee.

In May 2018, Cyclone Nargis has devastated buildings and trees, and killed people and animals in Yangon and Ayeyawady regions.

With the government’s official permission, wood sculptors led by the committee’s Chairman U Khin Maung Aye made wooden sculptures from the trees collapsed by Cyclone Nargis.

With the aim of improving wood carving art, large wood sculpture exhibitions were held in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 seven times.

In its eighth exhibition, 227 wood sculptures made by the wood sculptors from 20 townships will be contested.

The winner of the “favorite” wood sculpture competition will be awarded K 10 million, the first runner-up K 7.5 million and the second runner-up K 5 million. Ten consolation prizes winners of the competition will also be awarded K 1 million each.

The winner of “modern” competition will be awarded K 7.5 million, the first runner-up K 5 million and the second runner-up K 3 million. Five consolation prizes of K 1 million each for the competition will also be presented.

Individual medals made of gold will also be presented to the winners, first runner-ups and second runner-ups of the competitions.

Among the wood materials being carved from Nargis period to at present, the materials that are difficult to carve will be displayed at Shwe Pyi Resort.

The best sculptures made from the materials that are easy to be carved will be sold at the exhibition.— Myint Maung Soe (Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)