In the second half of last week, I moved from Kunming to Singapore to attend the International Burma Studies Conference 2014 – “Envisioning Myanmar: Issues, Images, Identities”. It was my first ever BSC, and it was great. Among a reported total of 270 delegates were gathered many big stars, giving even ordinary mortals the chance to get up close and personal with them. Sole gripe – S$300 registration fee, and not even lunch provided at the Pan Pacific. But that’s a comparatively minor issue. I joined forces with Melissa Carlson to organize the panel “Creative Dissent: Art and Politics in Myanmar”. Our landmark achievement was to recruit as paper givers Aung Soe Min, co-owner of Yangon’s Pandosan Gallery, and Pyay Way, owner of Yangon’s Nawaday Tharlar Gallery. More later on particular aspects of the conference.