Screening + Q&A: Art as a Voice for Myanmar's Forgotten Struggle
"Please Enjoy Our Tragedies", the life of Burmese artist after the 2021 military coup in Myanmar
An artist flees Myanmar following the 2021 coup and uses art to keep the world engaged in the plight of his nation.
When Myanmar’s fledgling democracy was destroyed, Sai’s life was turned upside down and his father was imprisoned. Sai and his wife K went into hiding. As Myanmar faded from international headlines, they knew they had to take action, and created a series of unique artworks. Armed with this work, they flee to Europe, on a mission to use it as a form of activism. They are haunted by the abuses in Myanmar, visa issues and the ever-present risk to those back home. Sai becomes increasingly fraught, questioning his mission and whether he can bring about meaningful change.
Join us for a screening of the Al Jazeera Witness documentary, Please Enjoy Our Tragedies, about the Burmese artist and activist Sai ▇▇ as he flees Myanmar after the coup, using his art to keep the world engaged in the ongoing plight of his nation.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ali Fowle, award-winning documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist. Joining her are Sai ▇▇, Aung Gyi, founding member of the Burma VJ collective—known for their undercover documentation of the 2007 Saffron Revolution—and Charlie Scrimgeour, the film's director.
"Please Enjoy Our Tragedies", the life of Burmese artist after the 2021 military coup in Myanmar
An artist flees Myanmar following the 2021 coup and uses art to keep the world engaged in the plight of his nation.
When Myanmar’s fledgling democracy was destroyed, Sai’s life was turned upside down and his father was imprisoned. Sai and his wife K went into hiding. As Myanmar faded from international headlines, they knew they had to take action, and created a series of unique artworks. Armed with this work, they flee to Europe, on a mission to use it as a form of activism. They are haunted by the abuses in Myanmar, visa issues and the ever-present risk to those back home. Sai becomes increasingly fraught, questioning his mission and whether he can bring about meaningful change.
Join us for a screening of the Al Jazeera Witness documentary, Please Enjoy Our Tragedies, about the Burmese artist and activist Sai ▇▇ as he flees Myanmar after the coup, using his art to keep the world engaged in the ongoing plight of his nation.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ali Fowle, award-winning documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist. Joining her are Sai ▇▇, Aung Gyi, founding member of the Burma VJ collective—known for their undercover documentation of the 2007 Saffron Revolution—and Charlie Scrimgeour, the film's director.
Ali Fowle is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist focused on international news and current affairs. Ali has worked extensively on reporting on Myanmar and in 2022, she was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Journalism for her coverage of the Myanmar coup.
Sai ▇▇(featured in the film) has exhibited his artworks globally, including exhibitions with Amnesty, Sea Junction, and the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC). He has continued to expand his Trails of Absence project with the support of Magnum Photos, focusing on themes of torture, abduction, kidnapping, and extrajudicial killings. He has also advocated internationally, including speaking at US congressional briefings.
Aung Gyi is one of the founding members of Burma VJ, a collective of undercover journalists who risked their lives to document political repression and civil unrest inside Myanmar, particularly during the 2007 Saffron Revolution. He is currently working with Al Jazeera on Myanmar issues.
Charlie Scrimgeour is a British documentary filmmaker. He has directed documentaries for outlets such as Ara.cat and Al Jazeera.