THE ROLE OF ARTS IN CHALLENGING MENSTRUAL TABOOS

Ma Ei

Visual Artist

Ma Ei was born in Dawei, Myanmar, where she grew up playing near the beaches of the small, seaside town. She traveled to Yangon to explore the art scene of Yangon, after she completed a bachelor of Physics in 2005. Her first encounter with painting and photography began in 2007. The following year, she became a member of New Zero art space, the first contemporary art space in Yangon. It was there she experimented with performance and has since participated in numerous international performance art events. Her performance work is often said to have Feminist aspects, as is also reflected in her lifestyle, defying traditional norms and living life as a female artist. With regards to photography, her approach is more scientific, echoing her early interest in the sciences in school. In 2015, she hosted a 3 days performance piece in Gallery 65 in Yangon titled ‘Period’, referring to the taboo subject of a woman’s menstrual cycle and received much public praise for the durational work. Her collection of abstract photography, along with the documentation of her performances in past years is a testament to her versatility and creativity. Later years her work has changed and she keeps focusing more on political issues. She has participated in over 50 exhibitions, both local and international and has been an artist-in- residence in Japan, Korea, India, the Netherlands and Australia. After the military coup in Myanmar 2021, she actively participated in the revolution and in 2023 she moved to Australia. Presently, she calls Melbourne her home and workplace, continuing to contribute her voice to the world of art and activism.