A Thousand Fires

Married couple Htwe Tin and Thein Shwe labor tirelessly to extract oil from a self-drilled pit adjacent to their home. In Myanmar, numerous such “artisanal” oilfields have emerged as locals abandon traditional farming to pursue this labor-intensive trade. Their journey captures the struggles and resilience of communities navigating the challenges posed by this shift in livelihood, highlighting the profound impact of resource extraction on their lives and environment. Through their hands-on work, Htwe and Thein reflect the intertwining of hope and hardship in a rapidly changing landscape.