Rowa-Daw portrays hill life of Bandarban
Bandarban has hosted its first-ever solo art exhibition, titled Rowa-Daw, at the Ethnic Cultural Institute. The show by Khing Shai Mong Marma closes today after featuring 27 works centred on the hill region’s indigenous life. The young artist chose his own Marma heritage as the focus of his debut collection.
The exhibition brings together charcoal sketches, watercolours, and oil paintings that explore the struggles of national minorities, the natural beauty of the hills, and their cultural richness. One watercolour, Shangu River 1, captures the riverbank’s reflection, while an oil piece, Stone, draws attention to environmental harm caused by illegal stone extraction.
Another oil work, *Existence 3*, symbolises the decline of indigenous hill tribes. The title *Rowa-Daw* itself combines two Marma words: *Rowa* (neighbourhood or village) and *Daw* (a term of respect). Due to the lack of proper gallery space in Bandarban, the show was held in a temporary venue. This marks not only the artist’s first solo display but also the first such event ever staged in the city.
The exhibition concludes today after presenting a rare glimpse into Bandarban’s indigenous culture through visual art. All 27 pieces reflect the region’s landscapes, traditions, and challenges, from environmental threats to fading tribal identities. No prior public record exists of either the artist’s earlier work or the hosting institute’s exhibitions.
