Ivan Pun is one of those rare individuals who is as comfortable in Asia as he is in Europe or America. But more importantly, it is what he is doing in his home country, Myanmar, that makes him stand apart. Ivan is at the forefront of the changes happening in the newly-opened Myanmar. While his family’s company heads up some of the biggest development projects in the country, Ivan himself is making waves with his company Pun + Projects. First came the now shuttered pop-up shop cum gallery T.S 1, followed by a succession of new food concepts and restaurants that give a contemporary edge to Yangon. In collaboration with Chef Kevin Ching, Ivan launched Port Autonomy, initially as a pop-up serving contemporary Asian- Asian cuisine, and a high-end Italian eatery called La Carovana. Following these came Vietnamese restaurant Rau Rum and a fast-food concept called Rice and Ice. Most recently he launched a furniture company, Paribawga (the Burmese word for furniture), that uses indigenous materials and artisanal Burmese knowledge to create contemporary designs. This is directly in line with his ambition to showcase contemporary culture in Myanmar. As the country opens up and plans for a future of lifestyle and culture, Ivan is already there.
