Aung KO

Aung Ko was born in Myanmar in 1980 and went into exile in late 2021. He is a contemporary artist working across painting, film, installation, and performance. His work is an ongoing commentary on the political and social contexts of contemporary Myanmar, often exploring themes such as censorship, injustice, and power.

He has participated in Documenta 15 (Kassel, Germany, 2022), the Singapore Biennale (2008), and the 4th Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale. He was an artist-in-residence at the Pavilion, Palais de Tokyo (2014–2015). In 2024, he presented an exhibition and residency at Palais de Tokyo, followed by an exhibition at the Musée national de l’histoire de l’immigration (Palais de la Porte Dorée) in 2024–2025.

In 2007, he initiated the long-term Thuyédan Village Art Project in his home village. The village’s main source of income is charcoal production, and due to its isolation and the presence of a nearby ammunition factory, the inhabitants live in fear while visitors and publicity are generally forbidden. Together with his wife, artist Nge Lay, Aung Ko has invited artists to collaborate with the villagers through performances, mobile sculptures, and other collective artworks.