History Seminar: Thaw Zin Latt

The 2,000-acre Clandeboye Estate in County Down was the family home of Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, the first Marquess of Dufferin and Ava. Lord Dufferin was at the zenith of his career as the Viceroy of India from 1884 to 1888, when he oversaw the annexation of Upper Burma in 1885. A large percentage of the global memorabilia he collected for the grand halls of Clandeboye originated from Burma (Myanmar), the currently war-torn country in South-East Asia.

This talk explores the historical importance of the Burma collection at Clandeboye, highlighting the importance of documenting and safeguarding a collection in ‘exile’ alongside my own positionality as an ‘exile’ curator, particularly as ongoing conflict and natural disasters threaten Burma’s cultural heritage.

Thaw Zin Latt is the Curator at Clandeboye Estate in County Down. He holds an MA in History of Art and Archaeology (2022) and an SOAS-Alphawood PGD in Asian Art (2025) from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Having worked across the museum, heritage, and archaeology sectors, he contributed to the British Museum's Burma to Myanmar special exhibition. His main research focus is on Southeast Asian Hindu-Buddhist art, rethinking how global art is framed in Western collections, and safeguarding Burma’s cultural heritage during times of crisis.

Refreshments, drinks and snacks will be provided . We look forward to seeing you there!

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