Premio Combat Prize

IN THE QUEST FOR UTOPIA
The future of Burma is at stake: in order to have “free and fair” elections in 2015 in Burma (Myanmar), many constitutional changes need to be undertaken by the quasi-civilian government.
Myanmar’s future over the past two years has taken an unexpectedly bright turn, although prospects toward stability and ongoing democracy are uncertain. Burma today is indeed at a crucial point. With the parliamentary elections to be held in 2015, there may be finally a possibility for the country to establish a meaningful democracy, for the first time since General Ne Win’s coup d’état in 1962. With signs of continuing reform, the parliament has agreed to review Myanmar’s military-written 2008 constitution. This is vital to having free and fair elections in 2015. Constitutional reform would allow the people of Myanmar to elect whomever they like, encourage national reconciliation and protect human rights, which under the previous military junta were among the worst in the world.
No single issue may play a more critical role in Burma’s possible transition to a free and democratic country than the release of its political prisoners. “In the Quest for Utopia” is a homage to people risking prison and even their lives in their struggle for a long-cherished goal of democracy and freedom.
Technique
Series of 20 photographs.
Extra deep box frame, painted white, separating image from glass. Printed image of a former political prisoner in the background, on Hahnemühle Fine Art Pearl. Glass with one of the Articles of 2008 Constitution to be reviewed, written on it. 100x70 cm.
Edition of 5
BIOGRAPHY
Ana Galan (Madrid, Spain) holds a degree in Economics, an International MBA and an MFA in Photography from EFTI, Madrid, Spain and has attended workshops with Pierre Gonnord, Peter Bialobrzeski, Lynne Cohen, Matt Siber and Alejandro Castellote. She is finalist in The Print Center’s 86th Annual International Competition, in Descubrimientos PHotoEspaña 2010, 2011 and 2014, Encontros da Imagem 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 at CENTER in Santa Fe on 2011: Dealer’s Choice Award and Editor’s Choice Award, and at The Center for Fine Art Photography Portraits exhibition. Her work has been exhibited in numerous galleries, photography festivals and exhibitions in France, Italy, India, Portugal, Spain, Finland, the Philippines, Myanmar and USA. She has completed artist residencies in Philadelphia, PA, in Hämeenkyrö in Finland and in Leyte in the Philippines. Her work is collected in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF) in Paris, in the gallery Le Château d’Eau in Toulouse, in CENTER in Santa Fe and in The Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, in USA.