Was born in Burma in 1966.

He studied law at University, became involved in Anyeint (Burmese Popular Theatre), and led the 1988 student protests in favour of democracy. Before being jailed in 1998, he was a pioneer of performance art in Burma. During the six years he spent in prison, he developed printing and painting techniques that allowed him to secretly create hundreds of works on prison uniforms, using smuggled materials and objects he had in his cell, like plates and lighters.

After his release, he continued to paint using the techniques he had devised in jail and has also further developed his work as a performance artist. Htein Lin’s work is based on his extraordinary life experiences, political events in Burma, and his profound Buddhist faith. He currently lives in the United Kingdom, and his work has been exhibited in the UK, US, Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand, at major international fairs, like the 2007 Venice Biennale and the Singapore Fringe Festival 2010.