U Thu Kha ( 1918 - 2007 )

Around 1910, while Myanmar was still under colonial rule, the spirit of nationalism and political awareness started to take root in the minds of the people. From 1920 onwards, literature and the arts in general were increasingly influenced by such ideas.

Illustrations b local artists in the many weekly and monthly publications, such as Thuriya, Myanmar Alin, Dagon, Kawi Myet-Hman, raised awareness of art and artists in the society.

At the same time artists like U Thu Kha, U Ba Ohn, Saya Hsaung, U Ba Lone, U Ba Sein, Saya Hla, Saya Myit, U San Lwin, U Tun Kywe, U Tun Min, U Po Ba, U Po Last, U Saw Maung, U Maung Gyi were becoming non for their paintings. Following in their footsteps artists like U Ba Nyan, U Ba Zaw and Yadanarbon Maung Su also emerged.

On 11th November, 1918 a son was born to U Pu and Daw Mya Hnint. The eighth of nine children, the child was named Maung Thu Kha. His parents lived on 6th street in west Yangon and ran a food stall at Scott Market.

Mg Thu Kha’s parents had no artists amongst their ancestors, but his mother was a niece of Daw May Shwe, a cousin of Daw Mya May who strongly supported the art movement and is in fact known as the “Mother of Myanmar Art”. Also one of his mother’s uncles was the famous athlete U Ba Than (Sando).

In 1910, Daw Mya May and her husband U Hla Aung opened a Buddhist Middle School for boys on Yangon’s Pagoda Road and a Buddhist Middle School for girls on Canal Street. When Maung Thu Kha was eligible he was sent to his grandaunt’s school.

At the time the Burma Art Club had been in existence for some years. It was first established around 1913, so by the time Maung Thu Kha was born in 1918 it was already well known. In 1920, the club was offering classes in three subjects and by then it was an influential organisation. 

Maung Thu Kha stayed until 3rd grade in school when he was transferred to Yangon State High School. By this time, his other grandaunt Daw Mya Shwe had opened a free night school at the premises of the Kyee Pwar Yay  organisation on the eastern section of Scott Market. Maung Thu Kha also attended this school where English was taught by U Thant ( later Secretary General of the UN ) and U Khant ( U Thant’s elder brother, Pantanaw U Khant ), and Burmese was taught by U Thein ( Kyee Pwar Yay ) and U Hla ( Ludu. ). U Hla also taught boxing and football and other sports. At the time, U Hla had matriculate from Yangon Central High School and was a Senior Footballer at BAA. He also excelled in boxing and track and field. 

At the Yangon State High School, there was an art club for students and Maung Thu Kha joined, not knowing that one day he would become a teacher at this very club. When he joined as a student, his art teachers were U Thet Win and U Maung Maung Mya and he learnt the basics from them. Later, geography teacher U San Win also taught classes at the club so Maung Thu Kha learnt from him as well.

As his grandaunt Daw Mya May had supported the Burma Art Club by giving them a building as well as giving support to many artists, young Maung Thu Kha had a chance to meet famous artists from an early age.

When he was in 6th grade he was severely disciplined for breaking school rules. But the incident led to an unexpected outcome. At the start of the school year, the walls of the latrines were freshly white washed. Egged on by his friends and eager to show his skills, he covered the walls with drawings. Reported to the teacher U Mg Mg Pyay by the school clerk, he was caned so hard that he had to stay at home for 3 days afterwards. On returning to school on the 4th day, his teacher interviewed him about the incident.

Maung Thu Kha explained that it was his passion for art and not mischief that made him deface the clean walls, and U Thet Win his art teacher confirmed his story. One could not know how regretful U Maung Maung Pyay was but he immediately wrote a note for Maung Thu Kha to have permission to attend classes and become a member without paying monthly fees or annual dues at the Burma Art Club. It could be said that he won that permission in exchange for a caning

Alongside U Thu Kha his friends U Harry Aung and U Than Maung were also classmates in junior class. Thus, since the 6th grade until the beginning of the War in 1921, he became a life member as well as a student at the Burma Art Club.

He was also interested in sports and in high school, he played football, basketball and boxed, according to his school friend the late Saya U Than Chaung ( General Secretary, Myanmar Basketball Federation, coach of the Myanmar Sports and Physical Education Department ).

His coaches in sports were Saya Clooseman ( Deputy Principle, Yangon State High School, also known as famous footballer U Hla Maung ), Saya U Ba Than Tin ( Famous footballer and also famous as a good maths teacher who later become principle of the Yangon State High School after independence ), sports and gymnastic instructor Mr. Luters ( who later became gymnastic instructor at the Rangoon University Students; Union Sports Department ).

Contemporiers of U Thu Kha in the art field were artists who were two to your years older such as U Kan Nyunt ( b. 1917 ), U Myat Kyaw ( b. 1817 ), U Kyaw Hlaing ( b. 1915 ), Yangon U Ba Swe ( b.1915 ), U Kyi ( b.1915 ), U Ba Kyi ( b. 1914 ), U Ba Yin Galay ( b.1914 ), U Hla Maung Gyi ( b. 1913 ), and artists who were the same age or two or three years younger, such as U San Pe ( b.1918 ), U Khin Maung ( Kha Bat Kyee ) ( b. 1919 ), U Ko Lay b.1920 ). And U Aung Khin ( b.1921 ).

Those who were his seniors U Thu Kha considered his teachers as well as he learnt by watching them work. For example U Ngwe Gaing ( b. 1901 ), U Ba Thet ( b. 1903 ), U Chit Mye ( b. 1903 ), U San Win ( b. 1904 ), U Ohn Lwin ( b. 1907 ), U Kin Maung ( b. 1908 ), U Tun Nyunt ( b. 1910 ), and U Thein Han ( b. 1910 ), were inspirations for him.

In 1938 U Thu Kha passed the art teacher’s examination held by the all Burma Education and information Department and he also matriculated from the State High School in 1940. He continued taking art lessons from U Ba Nyan, U Ba Zaw, U Thet Win, U Maung Maung Mya, U Ngwe Gaing and U San Win.

In the pre-war years, U Thu Kha was the general secretary of the art club at the State High School for four years. He entered the annual competition for art, crafts and technology held at the Jubilee Hall on Shwedagon Pagoda Road, and every year he won gold medals and other prizes. He was also allowed to exhibit in the group shows of artists sponsored by U Ba Nyan at the Burma Art Club.

After independence in 1948, he became a member of the newly established Artists and Sculptors Union. He became the in-house illustrator when the English language Daily New Times of Burma and the Weekly Business Review were first published in 1950. At the same time he began an illustrates strip on the story of Maha Bandoola for the English language Union Exprewss newspaper published by Dr. Maung Maung Pyay.

Later, in 1952, he exhibited at art exhibitions held in the premises of the Rangoon Gazette Press on Bo Aung Kyaw Street ( now the offices of the Myanmar Times ), in 1959 at the Sarpay Beikhman Art Exhibition and later at the annual art exhibitions held at the Envoy Hall ( now the Tatmadaw Hall ) by the National Art and Sculpture Council. 

Saya U Thu Kha became an instructor at the Yangon State School of Fine Artis in 1963. He was very patient in teaching the basic skills and anatomy. First year students were always eager to start using colours, but he made everyone begin by learning drawing skills in pencil. He made sure his students did not get bored for his relationship with his students. Good or bad students, he treated all equally with kindness and often paid for their tea, meals or bus fares out of his own pocket. He treated them like they were his own children.

In 1972 through a culture exchange program he visited Germany and studied block painting and mosaic and then toured Egypt. He later became the Principle at the Principle Yangon State School of Fine Arts until his retirement in 1984. While working at the Yangon State School of Fine Arts, his colleagues were Saya U Thein Han, Saya U Ba Lone Lay, and Saya U Lun Gywe and they worked well together as a team. Other artists such as Saya U Ngwe Gaing, Saya U Ba Kyi, Saya U Ohn Lwin, Saya U M. Tin Aye were part time teachers at the time, so it could be said that it was important period in the history of the Yangon State School of Fine Arts, when many well known artists came to teach.

While Saya U Thu Kha was teaching at the SSFA Yangon, he also taught classes at the Rangoon University Art Club, and until he retired, he focused on teaching the basics skills. Until his death, he served art the patron of the Traditional Artists and Artisans Association. In 1997, he was awarded an honorary professorship by the Department of Fine Arts. When the ASEAN Art Show was first held, he was appointed as organiser and in 1996 he led a team of artists to the show held in Vietnam and in 1997 to Malaysia. In 2000, he was supposed to lead the team to Singapore but due to a sudden brain haemorrhage he could not participate. 

When his student Min Wae Aung opened the New Treasure Art Gallery , U Thu Kha acted as patron. He came regularly to the gallery to paint until the last few days of his life when he was hospitalised. He came everyday since the gallery opened and after his illness in 2000, he came three days a week, Saturday, Sunday and Monday to paint. In our lives, we have seen only two art teachers who taught without stopping until they retired. They were Saya U Thein Han and Saya U Thu Kha. Before they retired, their passion was teaching and after retirement, they opened private classes. They gave more time to teaching and not on their own paintings, giving their time for others, to teach others, so Tha not many of their paintings survived them. They were happier to teach others their skills.

Saya U Thu Kha also wrote articles and a book on art. One excellent publication is his translated book of “International Methods of Figure Drawing”, complete with many illustrations. 

Amongst his students there are many who have achieved fame such as Mya Thaung, Wathone, Maung Maung Hla Myint, Myo Nyunt ( Mg Di ), Panchi Soe Moe, Ngwe Kyi, Swe Min Thar, Myay Zar, Zaw Min, Sann Min, Myeik Win Htein, Swe Min ( Danuphyu ) Win Thaw, Min Wae Aung, Ma Hmwe, Kyaw Shein, Naing Gyi, Thee Zar, Thein Shwe Kyi, Aung Min Thein, etc.

His students regularly paid respects to him after each annual homage ceremony for Elder Artists and later they cdl a homage ceremony to celebrate his birthday. At first this was at his house but later the venue changed to the New Treasure Gallery. Beginning in the 1978 until 2006 these annual gatherings took place, a period of 29 years. In November 2002 a solo show of U Thu Kha work was held over a month-long period at the New Treasure Gallery. On 19th July 2007 at 5pm Saya U Thu Kha passed away peacefully at the game of 89. He is survived by his wife Daw Khin Ohn and six daughters and 5 sons.