Since the military coup in Myanmar on 1 February 2021, artists in the Chin state have been making artworks as a way to share their stories and the atrocities that have been happening in their homeland.

These anonymous artworks act as a form of creative expression to speak back to the power of the military. Some of these works powerfully convey the imbalance of power, that the Chin people are like pawns in a game of chess.

Showing alongside these works from the Chin state is a photographic series by Van Tha Rahtin documenting the peaceful protests that have been taking place in Perth since the military coup and capturing the messages of solidarity shared by the Chin community of Perth and the wider Perth community for the people in Myanmar.

This exhibition aims to promote a message of hope while raising funds to provide access to education for the children and young people in the Chin state who have not been able to attend school for more than two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the military coup shutting down all schools and the internet.

We Will Not Be Forgotten is curated by Marilyn Metta & Rubi Ni Chin with support from Fitzgerald Photo Imaging.

Van Tha Rahtin is an award-winning freelance photographer and videographer with extensive experience working in media productions for a wide range of community projects and events. He has lived experience as a young person from a refugee background and extensive experience working with marginalised communities. Rahtin graduated with a Bachelor of Media and Communication (Film & Video) from Edith Cowan University in 2021 and is the Founder and President of VX Production,  a media production company. He has been awarded several leadership and media awards and is a well-respected member of the Chin community in Perth.