Exhibition20.03.202501.06.2025
ON SHOW
FREE

Htein Lin

Escape

Exhibition20.03.202501.06.2025
ON SHOW
FREE

Htein Lin

Escape

Ikon presents a major solo exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Htein Lin from Myanmar.

Evoking his lifelong commitment to documenting human experience in difficult times, it shows a comprehensive selection of the artist’s paintings made while he was a political prisoner from 1998 to 2004 on prison uniforms and found textile, alongside drawing, sculpture, video and new work. Htein Lin also makes new artworks with residents of HMP Grendon, Buckinghamshire, exploring prison art in Britain and Myanmar.

Htein Lin’s new large-scale painting, Fiery Hell (2024), portrays the plight of Myanmar’s rural populations, including ethnic and religious minorities, caught up in the ongoing civil war. Resilience in the face of decades of oppression in the country is highlighted in A Show of Hands (2013-), an installation of 12 plaster casts of the hands of former political prisoners from Myanmar.

At the centre of the exhibition are over 45 works from the 000235 series (1998-2004). Titled after Htein Lin’s International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) number, they demonstrate the ingenuity and originality of his art made in confinement. Htein Lin’s visual language is further explored in a selection of drawings from the 1990s and 2000s, shown in public for the first time, while video works give further insight into Htein Lin’s writing and performance.

A key element of Htein Lin’s project for Ikon includes artworks made with residents of HMP Grendon in Buckinghamshire. An off-site exhibition at the prison (1 – 22 May), includes portraits of prison residents and soap block sculptures inspired by the artist’s carving technique. The display follows workshops developed in collaboration with current HMP Grendon artist-in-residence Simon J. Harris, and explores subjects, materials and tools synonymous with prison art in Britain and Myanmar.

This exhibition is supported by the British Council through the Connections Through Culture grants programme and ai. gallery.

Free Digital Guide

Explore Ikon with our free digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the arts and culture app. Listen to audio guides, watch films and discover more.

FREE

Exhibition Details

20 March – 1 June 2025

Open Tuesday – Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays, 11am-5pm

Free entry, please consider making a donation

This exhibition is on the First Floor

Information on Ikon Gallery’s accessibility is available here

For additional access enquiries please contact education@ikon-gallery.org

VENUE

Ikon Gallery

1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HS

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Press Release
pdf
454.6 kB
Exhibition Guide
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180.9 kB
Art Explorer
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3.8 MB

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