Post-Nargis Myanmar sculpture show to be launched in China

YANGON, Oct. 5 -- An exhibition featuring Myanmar wooden sculptures made of stems and branches of downed trees during cyclone Nargis last year will be launched in China's capital city of Beijing later this month, sources with the Central Cooperative Society said on Monday.

The Nargis-related exhibition, the first of its kind to be held abroad, was invited by the Beijing Hungsheng Culture and Arts Company, the sources said, adding that the show will prompt foreign exchange earning through sale of such sculptures.

During the one-month show, scheduled for Oct. 16 to Nov. 16, over 800 wooden sculptures of Myanmar and Chinese cultural designs will be displayed.

Though the show is planned for one month, the products will be exhibited for one year under different themes and titles, it added.

During the cyclone storm that swept Myanmar on May 2-3 last year, more than 10,000 old-aged trees and other shade-providing ones were blown down, of which 6,000 were put upright, earlier report said.

These stem roots of trees of 30 to 100 years of age are sold freely to both domestic and foreign entrepreneurs for use in sculpture and decoration.

Besides, Myanmar has opened a wood garden at the People's Square in Yangon created with stem roots and branches from the cyclone-downed trees.

Deadly cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states -- Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin on May 2 and 3 last year, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon inflicted the heaviest casualties and massive infrastructure damage.

The storm has killed 84,537 people and left 53,836 missing and 19,359 injured according to official death toll.