Tales of art and power

“Burma to Myanmar”: from November 2, 2023, to February 11, 2024, the British Museum in London will highlight Myanmar’s rich heritage, also known as Burma. Spanning 1,500 years, from superpower to dictatorship, the exhibition reveals its influence at the crossroads of Asia through the artistic production of its inhabitants. Historical links with Thailand, China, and Europe are displayed, as are the impacts of British annexation, where contemporary art bursts forth as a symbol of defiance and hope. Artifacts, such as a ruby-encrusted letter sent by King Alaungpaya, bear witness to the country’s past grandeur—an exploration of Myanmar’s little-known riches.