Faces of Change: Portraits of Myanmar’s Democratic Awakening (2021)
On the morning of February 1 2021, Myanmar’s military invalidated the nation’s second democratic elec- tion, seizing power and plunging the country back into military dictatorship. The arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi shocked the world, but Myanmar’s population of over 54 million initially fell silent. By the fourth day, however, protests surged across the country, led by a diverse group of citizens—youth, workers, students, activists, and those who had endured five decades of military rule.
While the global media repeated similar sources, interviewed familiar faces, and reinforced the same narratives, the reality for everyday people diverged significantly. The coup was not merely a political setback—it was part of a long history of oppression. What followed was not just a political event, but a revolution driven by the people—a revolution that, as always, is costed by the people themselves.
Faces of Change shifts the focus, providing a human-centered narrative to counter the conventional portrayals of Myanmar’s Spring Revolution. This gallery highlights personal stories often overshad- owed by mainstream media. It brings forward the faces of ordinary people at an extraordinary juncture in their lives, offering a counterpoint to the repetitive narratives shaped by global discourse.
To protect my collaborators, I created a makeshift studio at my home, inviting them for long conver- sations. These moments became a break between protests, offering them a safe space to reflect and avoid being seen or photographed. The quotes featured in the exhibition come directly from these conversations. To maintain their safety, I developed the films in a portable darkroom and used double exposure to obscure their identities.
Businesswoman , 32
“My mom always talks about the hardships she faced during the last big uprising against the Myanmar military in 1988. She was four months pregnant with me. She was starving. She and her brother tried to es- cape to her hometown of Myitkyina without a train ticket, because theydidn”t have money. She lived on a bro- ken-down train for five days while she was on the run. They faced death. She says I might have to face this all over again. She told me, “You survived while you were still in my belly in the last revolution, but now you’ll have to look after yourself.”
(Members of the Burma Federation of Trade Unions march toward Sule Pagoda in downtown Yangon on February 14. Thousands of protesters across Myanmar demonstrate against the military coup)
Retired Business man, 63
“I have lived through many military crackdowns in Myanmar. I was an activist in all of those old revolutions. We had many strikes, many protests. We lost all of them. I had to go into hiding. I was imprisoned for four years. My whole family was imprisoned. I grew tired of all of this. I just wanted a quiet life. This time, I feel it”s a bigger revolution. It”s not about politics anymore, not about leaders or parties. It”s against fascism. We”re united now like never before. We can easily gather 500 people together fast. We”re protecting each other. Neighbor looking out for neighbor. My mind is there now— back in my neighborhood. After you photograph me, I need to return. They need me.”
(Protesters have pasted a poster of Min Aung Hlaing, the army general who led the coup, on a street in downtown Yangon. The posters are to show their anger and deter police and soldiers, who dare not step on his image.)
Labour Right activist, 35
“I’m pregnant right now. I feel exhausted after I walk on the streets. But I don”t want to stay at home. When I see posts about protests on Face- book, I feel guilty about staying at home. !It”s true that most protesters are demanding the im- mediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi. Is it enough that she”s released? We may share political goals, but the problem is much bigger. It”s our country”s old system of authoritarianism. We need to consider the rights of ethnic minority groups, the issue of majority Burmese chauvinism, and many other things. !Before the coup, my friends encouraged me to have a child because of my age— I”m getting older. At first, I was happy and proud that I was going to have a baby. Now I”m not sure. I don”t welcome a child any-more because of what”s happening in my country. The future is too uncertain.”
Artists braid colored string to show solidarity with protesters under Myaynigone Flyover.
Research consultant -28
“I’m a minority from Rakhine state. I’ve faced discrimination all my life. I knew I was different from about the fourth grade on. The teacher would slap me and not other students. I felt really, really small. My whole life, I”ve felt cast aside by the mainstream Burmese community. That”s why this revolution has to be total. We can”t go back to the old status quo. We need a new federal system that gives real power to ethnic minorities. That”s what I”m protest- ing for. This is an opportunity. I feel like I”m breathing for the first time in a long time.”
(Protesters in Yangon burn copies of Myanmar”s 2008 constitution, which gives the military significant political power, including a guaranteed 25 percent of all seats in the parliament)
Social Worker, 27.
“First I felt angry but later sad as soon as I hear the news of the coup. But my anger beat my sadness later. We have lost our youth, dream, hope and our loved ones in this revolution. When I feel sad or weak in this long war, I am driven by my anger to carry on. I will be carrying this anger until we win.”.
Protesters in Yangon burn copies
of Myanmar’s 2008 constitution on February 22nd, 2021, which gives the military significant political power, including a guaranteed 25 percent of all seats in parliament.
Artist and writer, 41.
“Art mobilizes people. We have a long tradition of that here in Myan- mar— a history of protest art. Poets in Mandalay, the imperial capital, were writing rhymes against tyranny centuries ago. They compared re- pression to bitter cold. We can draw on that tradition. Art has a strong effect on people’s psyches. It’s a way to combat fear. That’s what artists have to do now, even when tear gas is burning our eyes.”.
Posters against the coup and military rule hang from Yangon’s Myaynigone Bridge on Feb 25th 2021.
Freelance writer, 27.
“We have faced a lot of losses in this revolution but to me, what we have gained as a positive outcome is ma- jority Burmese people’s view towards ethic minorities. That’s a good move. We did not realize in the past wat Burmanization is and our justifications towards it are so biased, because of the stereotypical way of thinking, nurtured by the Burmese chauvinism and because of the information delivered by the Burmese military.”.
Yangon’s pride festival and march, which were to take place on February 14th, 2021, were canceled because of the unrest. Members of the LGBTQ community instead gather peacefully and march to city hall on February 19th, 2021.
Manager, 30.
“I have no words to express the an- ger and sadness. that’s all I have felt since the first day of the coup. First I am angry but later I am sad because I think of my daughter’s future. As my childhood had been under the military dictatorship, I do know how it is like. I don’t want it happening again for my daughter. I never felt having burden or regret being a mother. But for the first time, I felt guilty for my daughter because I feel really bad that she may have to face the same experience like me if we don’t win this revolution. So we must win.”.
Protestors help each other before the march of the protest in the early morning under the bridge of Myayni- gon, Yangon on February 12th, 2021, which is Union Day in Myanmar.