National Museum of Myanmar exhibits “Clone Cultural Properties” reproduced by the Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA) COI site, as part of its public collection

TUA is pleased to inform that clone mural paintings in Bagan Archaeological Zone*1, reproduced by the TUA COI site*2 using its unique patented technology, has displayed at the National Museum (Nay Pyi Taw) as part of its public collection.

This is the second time the TUA was commissioned by the government of Republic of the Union of Myanmar to produce Bagan clone mural painting, following their request to produce mementoes for the leaders of ASEAN+3 for the Summit in November 2014*3.

Mr. Kyao Oo Lwin, Director General, Department of Archaeology and National Museum, Ministry of Culture, Myanmar, gave his comments to commemorate the display:
“I am grateful to the Tokyo University of Arts for making it possible for us to display the clone mural paintings from Bagan at the National Museum in Nay Pyi Taw.
Despite these paintings are difficult to exhibit for preservation purposes, we are delighted that realization of display to the public pass our extremely valuable culture of Bagan down to future generations through this exhibition.
Besides this exhibition will ensure more people see the beautiful Bagan and help develop the tourism industry.
We hope that it will also contribute to reconstructing the disaster-stricken area.”

The TUA will continue to promote exchange of art and culture as well as development of new educational and research activities, through global cooperation with the government of Myanmar. Such activities will include building clone temples in Bagan; expanding the tourism industry by promoting clone cultural properties; and conducting personnel exchanges with the Myanmar National University of Arts and Culture.

＊1 Bagan Archaeological Zone
The Bagan Temples are regarded as one of the three greatest Buddhist sites in the world, along with Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Borobudur in Indonesia. It is an important and unique cultural property from both a historical and architectural point of view. Most of the white and reddish brown towers and temples of various sizes were built between 11th and 13th Century. Hundreds of mural paintings found inside of more than 3200 towers and temples show high artistic quality, different from Buddhist art of the Silk Road. Unfortunately, most of the mural paintings have been looted or badly damaged by natural disasters. Around 400 towers were damaged by the M6.8 earthquake that occurred in August 2016 and many of these towers remain closed due to the severe damage.

＊2 TUA COI site
Following the start of Center Of Innovation program supported by Mext and JST in fiscal year 2015, the Tokyo University of the Arts COI site has started to deliver contents widely and has developed infrastructures both in Japan and abroad by collaborating with the education, healthcare and welfare services sectors.
(Center of Innovation program)
http://www.jst.go.jp/tt/EN/platform/coi.html
(TUA COI site)
http://innovation.geidai.ac.jp/en/

＊3 Presentation of Bagan Temples Mural Reproductions to the Myanmar Ministry of Culture
http://www.geidai.ac.jp/english/news/201411127786.html

Mr.Kyao Oo Lwin (Director General, Department of Archaeology and National Museum, Ministry of Culture, Myanmar) and Professor Masaaki MIYASAKO
in the office of Myanmar Ministry of Culture

Mr.Ye Myat Aung (Director, National Museum (Naypyitaw))
and Professor Masaaki MIYASAKO
in the National Museum (Nay Pyi Taw)