Kyee Myint Saw
Kyee Myint Saw (b. 1939) is one of Myanmar's most prominent modernist painters and a key figure of the country's "Third Generation" of artists. Born in Yangon in 1939, his academic path was unique; he earned a B.Sc. in Mathematics in 1966 and an M.Sc. in 1990 from Yangon University. He later became a faculty member at the Yangon Arts and Science University and the Institute of Economics, serving as President of its Arts Committee twenty times. His scientific training gave him a disciplined, analytical approach to composition and color.
- Born
- 1939
- Nationality
- Myanmar
- Lives and works
- Yangon
Kyee Myint Saw (b. 1939) is one of Myanmar’s most prominent modernist painters and a key figure of the country’s “Third Generation” of artists. Born in Yangon in 1939, his academic path was unique; he earned a B.Sc. in Mathematics in 1966 and an M.Sc. in 1990 from Yangon University. He later became a faculty member at the Yangon Arts and Science University and the Institute of Economics, serving as President of its Arts Committee twenty times. His scientific training gave him a disciplined, analytical approach to composition and color.
Despite his scientific background, he dedicated his life to art, making his name with the popular “Yangon Night” series—oil paintings of market and city scenes on black backgrounds. His work is influenced by early modernist masters like Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse. He is known for capturing the bustling mood of Myanmar markets, with a sense of exuberance tempered by “the hidden depths of loneliness of each person.” His night market scenes, in particular, convey a vibrant energy while also evoking a quiet introspection.
He remains active and committed to the modernist ethos. In 2018, at age 79, he organized “A Journey through Modern Art,” an exhibition with four other modernists, stating, “We’re old now, but our minds are modern—still modern.” His enduring dedication to his craft has made him a beloved figure in Myanmar’s art community.