Soulless City

A barren land was scrubbed out from the core of its ground so that it can bloom as the newest capital of Myanmar. Over 10 years later, she now hosts more than 1,000,000 people among most of whom are from bureaucratic circles. Under one command, one voice, this city was built and several people from civil services were ordered to move here. But they were not to serve the people of Myanmar, but to serve the military regime.

Soulless City is a photography work about the newest capital city built by the military regime in Myanmar back in 2006. The regime’s leader at that time, General Than Shwe had built this to show his might and power and named this city “Nay Pyi Taw” which is the term to call a royal capital where the Kings and Queens reside.

There was a brief moment of pseudo-democratic era where there was an election and parliament systems in Myanmar. There were many pro-democracy people who fought against the military regime for their whole life including Aung San Suu Kyi, her party and other opponent political groups resided in this city after they were elected for parliament but it was never meant for them. This city was built for one sole absurd reason which is to protect the military leaders and their power.

While working in this city briefly during 2017-2019, the photographer felt the strangeness of this city. This city was full of mysteries and restricted zones which are, of course, out of reach for normal civilians. So the photographer took these photographs with many questions such as where this city was drifting? How will she grow? And for whose futures will she defend? This photography work was created in 2019.

Answers for those questions were revealed on February 1st, 2021 when the military leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, the successor of General Than Shwe, staged a coup d’etat. And several civilian government leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi were arrested along with many other political activists.