School of Creative
Industries
Phoo Myet Che
Phoo is an aspiring arts manager with a strong interest in the visual arts, particularly photography. Her research interests lie in socially-engaged art, photography and the contemporary art scene in Myanmar. She has previously worked as a gallery assistant and is passionate about projects that bridge art and social transformation while engaging various communities.
Thesis abstract
Collectivism as a strategy for women photographers in Myanmar: a case study on သူမ (Thuma) Collective
Thuma, which means 'she; in Burmese, is an all-female photography collective based in Myanmar which was formed in 2017 with five founding members. This paper will investigate the emergence of women photographers in Myanmar while focusing specifically on the organisational structure and practice of Thuma Collective against the backdrop of gendered hierarchies in the country. Through an interview with a founding member of the collective, the research will document the role gender plays in shaping the experience of women photographers and how they assert their collective agency to improve the representation of women in the photography scene, through the act of collectivising.