Sand artists prosper by painting Buddha stories in Bagan during low season

 

February 28

 

After the long holiday period of Union Day and Chinese New Year, resident painting artists have been earning a good income by creating murals depicting Buddha stories, the Buddha’s Eight Victories, and the 16 Dreams of King Kosala in Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, and some hilly areas.

 

“They earn well by painting Buddha stories and King Kosala’s dream on walls with sand, especially when there aren’t many tourists. To ensure this art continues across generations, Bagan artists are passing their skills to the younger generation. The art of mural painting in Bagan will continue to thrive as long as mural works continue,” said U Zeya Than, an artist from Myinkaba village.

 

Currently, mural paintings are commissioned for K25,000 per square foot. Depending on the financial capacity of the monasteries, artists from Bagan create murals of the Ten Great Jatakas, other Jatakas, the Buddha’s Eight Victories, and the Dreams of King Kosala, with the size of the wall determining the scale of the work.

 

Under neem and White-barked acacia trees, painters frequently offer their skills to both domestic and foreign tourists during Bagan’s tourism season through hand painting and sand painting. In Bagan villages, they earn money from sand painting during the low tourist season, while in rural areas, painting Buddha’s Jatakas provides a higher income. — Oktha/MKKS