Born and growing up in a small town of central
Myanmar, called Pyaw Bwe, literally meaning
“A Place to be Happy,” his happiest
times were when he was drawing. After he
passed his matriculation, he came to the
capital city Yangon to attend the prestigious
State School of Fine arts. He learnt all
the basics over three intense years of study
from teachers such as U Thein Han, U Thukha.
U Lun Gywe, Mr. Harry Aung, and U San Win.
By the age of 29, in 1973, he has already
made a name for himself in the art, photography,
and movie worlds.
Another interest he first took up as a hobby
is photography, which later became a profession
he practiced off and on. Through his work
in photography, he became a successful movie
director in the mid seventies, proudly using
the prefix ‘Pan Gyi’ meaning
art in front of his name to show that he
is primarily a painter.
Pan Gyi Soe Moe and Academy Award winning
actress Tin Tin Nyo at their traditional
Burmese wedding, 1978. Marriage to a beautiful
Academy Award winning actress Tin Tin Nyo
followed. By now, their only daughter is
married with a son of her own. As a director
Pan Gyi Soe Moe went on to make over 50
movies and over 200 videos. By the mid 1900s,
he felt that his heart truly belonged with
painting. His wonderful wife and daughter
understood and supported his decision to
give up a lucrative career to embark on
what he could not promise to be a successful
career as a painter, after nearly 25 years
absence from the work which is his true
love.
Sincerity of will and true talent, however,
could not be ignored. He became overwhelmingly
successful with collectors from all over
the world arriving at his doorstep by word
of mouth. His first show abroad was in Malaysia
in 1997, followed by almost annual shows
in the United Kingdom, Bali, Hong Kong,
Bangkok, and South Korea. His works are
in collections in Australia, Canada, France,
Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Portugal, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan,
Thailand, United Kingdom and USA.
To see a Soe Moe painting is to see life.
His human figures are caught in a fraction
of a second during their everyday lives.
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