Because Myanmar (formally called Burma), abuts southern China, it is
easy to imagine that one is an extension of the other. But, nineteen
thousand foot high mountains divide the two countries, creating by
necessity distinct cultures. In Myanmar, although primarily a Buddhist
country, there is also a vibrant under-culture of animism, identified
by “nat shrines” dedicated to the spirits of local heroes, who have
attained a state in which they can answer prayers. Myanmar is a place
in which the religion(s) and the society in general are completely
intertwined. Weaving together the profoundly religious aspects of the
Burmese people with their love of storytelling manifests in the puppet
theater, which is the value carrier of cultural myth and is also
employed to safely voice political criticism. The images in Myanmar
Tapestry are drawn from aspects of this complex society.