ACCORDING to U Naing Win, a hand-painting artist working at the car park near Sinphushin monastery, artists’ families are earning a fair income by providing hand-painting services at shops around pagodas and religious buildings to travellers across Myanmar visiting the Bagan-NyaungU Ancient Culture Region in NyaungU Township in Mandalay.
Flocks of visitors from across Myanmar have been increasingly coming to the Bagan. As a result, the number of horse-cart and e-bike rental services has gradually increased, enabling families to add their income. With more local pilgrims arriving, the local business of the Bagan-NyaungU area can now begin to recover, explained hand-painting artist U Tin Soe.
Those skilled in hand-painting charge between K1,500 to K 5,000 depending on the design, with durability lasting from one day or two days up to a week and the type of paint used. This led lacquer workers to open hand-painting stalls, and pilgrims from across Myanmar have also been requesting hand-painted designs. This created job opportunities for residents of Bagan-NyaungU. They can also generate their income on one hand. During the significant days, especially full moon days, as the number of travellers wishing to take hand-painting artistic works becomes very large, the artists are able to work efficiently and earn steadily income. — Dipar Linn/KZL
