Following the coup in 2021, Nge Lay and Aung Ko were forced to leave Myanmar with their daughter. In exile, the couple is now in residence at the Cité internationale des arts, where their personal reconstruction process has begun. In this new living and working environment, Nge Lay and Aung Ko have been able to return to work and continue their training at the Beaux-Arts in Paris.
In search of a peaceful haven, like in Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams, they dreamed of a garden. A garden that would be a source of serenity and protection for their family and for all the artists in residence at the Cité internationale des arts, whether in exile or not.
The starting point was a plant given to Aung Ko by another artist who was finishing his residency. This gift gave rise to the idea of revitalising the space adjoining their studio, turning it into a protective garden that would last after their stay. As an expression of their gratitude for the hospitality of the residence and their host country, Aung Ko cleaned and enriched the soil, and gradually incorporated new plants into the ecosystem to renew it, as well as accessories for spending time in comfort.
Since then, the garden has become a shared place of rest and relaxation for visitors and artists, who in turn take care of it.
Nge Lay & Aung Ko (Myanmar) are in residence through the programme for artists in exile, with the support of the French Ministry of Culture.