THE ‘world’s biggest wood sculpture competition’ concluded with a presentation ceremony yesterday at the Shwe Pyi Resort in Bago.

The purpose behind holding the eighth edition of the competition was to encourage the next generation of wood sculptors and to improve the Myanmar sculpture industry, said the organizers. This year, 222 sculptors from 20 townships entered 227 wood sculptures for the competition.

The competition was launched in 2008 after KMA Foundation’s chairman U Khin Maung Aye and sculptors decided to make sculptures from trees uprooted by Cyclonic Storm Nargis.

Participants compete under two categories at the competition - optional and modern.

In the optional wood sculpture competition, U Pyae Sone Aung from Darpain Village, which is known for wood sculptors, emerged as the winner. The runners-up U Kyaw Swar and U Myo Zayar Aung were from the same village. Ten consolation prizes were awarded to other participants.

The winners and runners-up of the optional wood sculpture competition were awarded a half-tical of gold each. The winner also received K10 million, the first runner-up K7.5 million, and the second runner-up K5 million. Ten consolation prize winners were awarded K1 million each.

In the modern wood sculpture competition, U Wai Lin Naing from Bago was declared the winner. The first runner-up was U Myo Myin Aung from North Okkalar (Shwe Paukkan) and the second runner-up was U Zayar Hein from Bago. Five consolation prizes were awarded to other participants.

The winners and runners-up of the modern wood sculpture competition were awarded a half-tical of gold each. The winner also got K7.5 million, the first runner-up K5 million, and the second runner-up K3 million. The consolation prize winners were awarded K1 million each.— Aye Min Thu (Translate by Bahtoo)