Htein Lin: Escape

Ikon presents a major solo exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Htein Lin from Myanmar (20 March – 1 June 2025).

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. Read the full press release here.

“Although I am currently unable to travel outside of Myanmar, knowing that my work is being shown in exhibitions overseas like Ikon keeps open a window for me to look out on the world. It also offers a chance for the world outside to see what is happening in Myanmar”. Htein Lin 

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