San Win
| San Win | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1905 British Burma |
| Died | 1981 (aged 76) Myanmar |
| Nationality | Burmese |
| Education | Burma Art Club, Goldsmiths College, Columbia University |
| Known for | Painting |
| Movement | Rangoon School |
| Awards | Wunna Kyawhtin, Fulbright/Smith-Mundt Scholarship (1952-53) |
San Win (Burmese: ဆန်းဝင်း; 1905–1981) was a painter who is renowned in Burma as the first Burmese painter to embrace impressionism as his chief style of depiction. He is also well known as a devoted and tireless government official who presided over art programs in Burma.
While still an adolescent, San Win was adopted by Martin Ward, a professor of physics at Rangoon University during the British colonial period in Burma. Ward was a hobby painter and the founder of the Burma Art Club (BAC) when it first began operation in 1913. The BAC was initially established to meet the needs of the British community in Rangoon for weekend painting sessions; however, its agenda became more and more ambitious, and young Burmese artists such as Ba Nyan and San Win became members of the club and availed themselves of its training. In 1920, Ba Nyan was sent to London on a colonial stipend where he was taught European styles of oil painting in more academic and professional settings. When Ba Nyan returned to Burma permanently in 1930, he passed on his accomplished painting skills to many other Burmese painters. While San Win was never one of Ba Nyan's official apprentices, it is certain that San Win observed Ba Nyan's techniques closely and learned from him.
San Win graduated from Rangoon University late, in 1931, at the age of 26. Following graduation, he became a high school art teacher, and later, in 1932 or 1933, he became an art lecturer at the Teacher’s Training College, where by 1934, he had risen to the position of chief of art teachers. In about the same year, he accepted a position as an art official in the Department of Education. In 1939, when the State School of Art and Music opened, he became its first principal. During the World War II years, like many of the major painters of Burma, he remained active, working as an instructor at the Institute of Art, established by the Japanese during their period of war occupation in Burma.
From 1948-51, San Win studied art education at Goldsmiths, University of London (formerly Goldsmiths College), and later studied at Columbia University from 1952-53 as a Fulbright/Smith-Mundt Scholar. After returning to Burma, he became a deputy minister of art education. He was subsequently awarded a Wunna Kyaw Htin, the highest title that can be bestowed upon an individual in Burma for civil service. In 1960-61, San Win had further opportunities to travel overseas on a UNESCO cultural exchange program, in which he visited and studied art education in England, the USA, Italy, France, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and perhaps other countries.
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