Htan Kyaw Htay says he depicts the landscape in vibrant, vivid colors, because his people are longing for a brighter future as they stare into the distance. He depicts the backs of people because Myanmar has turned its back on the world, but the figures are often outlined with a thin, uneven rim of warm contrasting color, representing a sliver of hope in an otherwise grim reality. Inspired by Van Gogh, Than Kyaw Htay gives his paintings texture and added depth by scratching a comb through the pigments, at times revealing the contrasting underpainting. This technique smoothes and integrates the tones of the figures, clothes and landscape, giving the works an added dimension and energy.