As Americans celebrate Independence Day this weekend, Burma’s hero Aung San comes to mind. Often called the George Washington of Burma. Like Washington, Aung San was the father of his countries army and the one who gained independence from the British government. Unlike Washington, Aung San is being erased from Burma’s history. He is becoming a disappearing hero.

Throughout history totalitarian regimes have guaranteed their continuance through force, control of information, intimidation and brutality. They rewrite history by altering or erasing written documents and accounts of historic events. Through the use of ever advancing technology they eliminate past figure heads from group photographs and eliminate entire episodes and personages by rewriting their history books.

In Burma, the ultimate act of disappearing was demonstrated with the assassination of Aung San and his colleagues after WWII. Aung San the revered hero of Burma, provided the inspiration and the force behind a democratic future for the country. Following the massive democracy demonstrations of 1988 and the emergence of his daughter Aung San Suu Kyi to a position of leadership and inspiration, All images of Aung San began to disappear. According to Moustache Brother Lu Maw, he was removed from the currency and replaced by an “AH NEE MAL”

In the past, the celebration of Burma’s Independence after WWII has seen huge parades and extensive coverage in the regime’s newspaper The New Light of Myanmar. Aung San who played the key part in negotiating Burma’s independence from Britain has disappeared from all official accounts of the event. Where once his name appeared, the “Tatmadaw” (Burma’s army) has been substituted.

It is because of the strong connection between this hero of Burma and his daughter that the regime would like him to disappear completely. This is an effective technique in countries where the leaders control all information. Burmese children are being educated in schools where history is rewritten and where Aung San has vanished.

As an artist, I believe we have a responsibility to use our talents to guarantee that these moral warriors are not forgotten; that they are not “disappeared”. As a sculptor I feel a need to create images of such inspiring and courageous leaders. The stronger the effort to disappear them, the stronger is the need to guarantee that these new images flourish. For this reason, I have been compelled to generate sculptures of Aung San, Aung San Suu Kyi, the Moustache Brothers and Min Ko Naing. All of these brave crusaders for democracy are the primary forces in gaining Burma’s true independence. To allow their influence to disappear is to allow Burma’s future health and well being to begin to slip away.

Notes on the Sculpture:  I have always liked the few photos of Aung San addressing a crowd after he left the army.  I think he is particularly striking in the formal Burmese caung baung and jacket.

I realize the most famous photo of Bogoke Aung San depicts him bundled up in the heavy woolen scarf and overcoat for a single winter trip to England…not exactly what a military officer would wear in the steamy Burmese climate.