Focus on Myanmar: Art, Music and Resistance

5:30pm

Wednesday 26th July, 2023

Black Spark Cultural Centre

Hosted by Pass the Mic Media

Join Pass the Mic Media at Black Spark on Wednesday 26th of July for a presentation about art, music and resistance since the February 2021 military coup of Myanmar.

Featuring the work of Mayco Naing - photographer and artist, and 2023 World Press Photo Award winner Mauk Kham Wah.

Plus the music of Myanmar punk band Rebel Riot.

On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military - led by General Min Aung Hlaing (who oversaw the 2017 genocide of the Rohingya) - ousted Myanmar's democratically elected government.

The country had only recently transferred to partial citizenship rule after decades of dictatorship, but since then, the crackdown on dissent has been harsher than ever.

Armed resistance has sprung up around the country, adding to decades of ethnic conflicts, and uprisings on the streets saw many imprisoned. A prominent political hip hop artist was even executed. It is this resistance that the featured artists will speak about.

The evening will feature a video from Myanmar punk band Rebel Riot with an adjoining statement from Kyaw Kyaw (Rebel Riot), an overview of the Myanmar crisis and a presentation by Mayco Naing (Myanmar photographer and artist), followed by a Q&A with Mayco facilitated by Ali MC (Al Jazeera correspondent, writer and photographer).

Tickets are available on a sliding scale basis, no-one turned away. Limited door tickets available.

Proceeds from ticket sales will help cover the costs of the event with all remaining to be donated directly to Rebel Riot's Food Not Bombs program in Yangon. Your solidarity is appreciated.

Pass the Mic Media is a collaborative, community media project emphasising the self-determination of people to tell their own stories through art, music and photography to foster international solidarity.

Facilitated by Ali MC (Al Jazeera correspondent, writer and photographer) and Mercedes Zanker (3CR political affairs producer and host, writer and activist).

This event takes place on unceded Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Land.

Accessibility: Black Spark has a front entrance of standard width, with a tiny lip at the door. The toilet is a single cubicle with a sliding door, without handrails. There are several seating options including low and high stools, chairs with backs, and a modular velvet lounge straightforward to relocate.

The main room has warm-toned ceiling spot lighting, music room has cool-toned ceiling spot lighting, with two large warm-toned lamps as additional or alternative lighting options.

The evening will be filmed, so please let the organisers know if you do not wish to be filmed on the night.