Home is the Sacred Place

The person depicted in the artwork is my younger cousin, who is currently facing a death sentence for his acts of defiance against the military government. Despite the seriousness of his situation, he always maintained a smile. Our summers were filled with visits to each other's towns, a tradition since our childhood. He is the eldest of five siblings, with a family that includes his father, mother, two younger sisters, and a younger brother. His hometown, situated near Yangon, boasts remarkable beauty. To this day, he remains imprisoned. In his early life, his family endured poverty, living in a tent that resembled the home portrayed in this artwork. Despite the cramped space for the six of them, they shared their meals with joy. Regrettably, he was arrested and sentenced to death during the most recent coup. Thankfully, his family managed to escape just weeks before his arrest. It has been years since he returned home or enjoyed a meal with his family. Though he has many potential places to live, only one place truly feels like home to him. I took the photo featured in the artwork in 2019, right before he was ordained as a Buddhist monk. The image captures his joy and excitement, surrounded by his family at their home. That moment was the last time I saw him in person. I really wanted to ask my cousin, "What does home mean to you?" but couldn't, so I asked ChatGPT for some ideas. It gave me a special sentence that I used in the artwork: "Home is the sacred space where the heartbeat of family resonates in shared moments and cherished memories.” The yellow square behind his head acts as a halo, a departure from the traditional circular halos seen behind figures like Jesus, Angels, or Buddha. This choice symbolizes the struggle, as a square's perfect rotation is more challenging to achieve than a circle's. Such square halos frequently appear in my artworks. A blue line in front of his eyes symbolizes the guise of vigilantes, reminiscent of folk heroes like Robin Hood, Zorro, and Batman, who cover their eyes with masks. The background photo has been converted into pixel art to conceal the specific location, lending an artistic flair to the piece. I've also included flower bouquets to represent love and hope, while the depiction of the home illustrates the small, tent-like dwelling where he spent many years with his family. The selected colors are intended to evoke a sense of nostalgia for home among viewers. I have taken steps to ensure his anonymity within the artwork, making it impossible for anyone to recognize him through it. Only his family and I have this particular photo of him. The prison where he is detained lies in his hometown, a cruel irony as he can no longer return there, and his family has since moved away. This reality inspired my artwork titled "Home is the Sacred Place," created to honor those separated from their homes and loved ones.