Room for FAAM Residence Program Part Ⅱ: Artists in Myanmar Today―Aung Ko

　Since opening in 1999, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (FAAM) has been conducting its annual Residence Program, inviting artists and researchers from Asia for a period of time that enables them to interact with citizens through collaborative art-making, workshops, and talk events. In 2022, as part of Fukuoka Art Next (a new governmental policy that supports emerging local artists and artistic activities), FAAM renewed this program and invited eight artists (including duos) across Japan and worldwide through its open call for them to work at the newly located studio in Artist Cafe Fukuoka. We wish to offer a glimpse of what we’ve done so far in the Residence Program over the years and introduce later achievements of the previously invited artists in this new series of exhibitions, Room for FAAM Residence Program, which started in 2019.
　For the second term of the series, we introduce Aung Ko from Myanmar, who joined the Art Exchange Program for the 4th Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale 2009 (FT4). Aung Ko’s works have been focused on his youth and homeland, and the exhibition will showcase his works made through interactions with the local people during the artist’s stay in Fukuoka. Some of Aung Ko’s recent achievements will also be introduced after he moved to France to escape 2021 Myanmaer coup d’etat.

Aung Ko
　Born in 1980, in Htone Bo, Pyay, Bago Region, Myanmar. Based in Paris. Aung Ko is one of the representative artists from Myanmar, whose experimental works diverge into different medias including installations, performances, and videos. The artist had been based in Yangon after gaining his degree in painting at the National University of Arts and Culture, Yangon, in 2002. 　After joining Singapore Biennale 2008, Aung Ko was invited to participate in the 4th Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale 2009 (FT4) and stayed in Fukuoka for a month. He moved to Paris after the military coup in Myanmar in 2021 and has been working internationally including his participation in documenta fifteen in 2022.