Land For Sale is a series of wood carvings that maps the borders of Myanmar’s 14 states and divisions, bringing into focus the contested geographies of the nation. Each piece traces parcels of land historically sold to the highest bidder, while also marking ongoing conflicts between the state and ethnic minorities. By materializing borders in wood, the work invites audiences to consider questions of ownership, power, and the fragility of territorial claims.
Originally created in 2017, the project marked areas already affected by conflict. Following the 2021 revolution, the entire country faces renewed turmoil, making questions of geography, governance, and identity ever more urgent. The idea of imagined divisions continues to shape national consciousness, suggesting potential reconfigurations of the nation’s map.
The series also includes 14 keychains, one for each state and division, produced in unlimited editions, allowing intimate engagement with the concept of borders. By intersecting physical and political landscapes, Land For Sale explores how maps embody histories, struggles, and aspirations. The work is both a reflection on Myanmar’s past and a meditation on its uncertain future, resonating with the festival’s theme by provoking dialogue about nationhood, identity, and the human costs embedded in lines drawn on maps.
Installation View on Dawei Art Space
Myanmar