Yanyum Chin Painting

This original artwork on canvas is from Christian's world acclaimed 'Chin Series'. Inspired by his extensive 2012 travels to the remote Northwestern region of Myanmar to visit the very remote tribes of the Chin area. The inspiration for this iconic modern body of work comes from the intricately tattooed faces of the Chin women, in which the series is entitled. The concept being the modern Asian face of today, overlaid with the heritage of tribal tattoos is what makes this bold contemporary series so iconic. About the Tribe – The Chin tribe and their tattoos are relatively unknown to the outside world. These different tribes in northwestern Myanmar (Chin and Rakhine State) use tattoo marks in a centuries’ old tradition to distinguish one hill tribe from another or indicate their marital status and social rank. Together with the Derung tribe in Southwest China’s Yunnan province, they are the only tribe know to adhere to this practice. Both tribes are from the same Indo-Tibetan lineage. These multiplex patterns are carved into the skin by thorns using a mixture of sap from a local plant (sourced in the jungle for the color), ash and chicken blood or buffalo kidney. According to legends, these ornate tattoos were originally done so that Burmese Kings would not be able to steal women away as wives. They have however, evolved to become symbols of strength and beauty; reflecting nature – especially the animal and plant Kingdom - and the animist beliefs of the tribe. Examples of these complex and delicate tattoos include: • Spider webs on the face • The sun of the forehead • Reptile skin on the face, especially on eyelids, nose & chin • Tiger whiskers bellow the nose • Peacock plumage fan on the forehead • Leopard dots on the face (…) For generations women have been willing to submit themselves to the pain of this art for the beauty it represents to them and their tribe. Deep in the unforgiving hills and jungle of the Chin state tattoos are still being carved on faces of young girls coming to age despite being forbidden by the government. With the opening of Myanmar’s borders, these women will soon come to represent the last of their kind.