Medium: Drawing, Technique: Scratched paper, Size: 21.0 x 29.7 cm each (set of 120 works), Year: 2017 to ongoing
When I first immigrated to Europe in 2017, I started working on the Zwischen/ Between/ মধ্যবর্তী series and till then I am continuing them. It is a tangible recording of the voices of the people I met who experienced exile, loss, and violence. These works look from a far white empty sheets- something invisible. Upon closer inspection, the invisible becomes visible. Therefore, it represents the erasure of marginalized voices and experiences and highlights the individual narratives that were silenced for too long. The scratched technique on paper involves scratching or scraping away layers of the paper with a sharp needle (a board pin). The tactile forms on the paper is like a deep wound beneath the surface of the skin. This technique represents the emotional and psychological impact of these experiences, capturing the rawness and complexity of the narratives. Each stroke and mark on the paper conveys a fragment of the stories, immersing viewers in the profound journey of those who have endured displacement and trauma.
So, I am interested in Listening, and so far, it derives from 'Active Listening,' and my body becomes a secondary witness in this process. I have chosen to work with white A4 sheets that symbolize the extensive paperwork and documentation required for visa applications, highlighting the complex and thorough nature of the process. This metaphor also sheds light on the concept of fortress Europe and America, illustrating how these nations have established stringent immigration policies and erected physical borders. It underscores the historical context of colonization, wherein these countries expanded their influence by establishing colonies and later fortified their borders to preserve their sovereignty.
This series includes people's mother tongue as a quintessential element or tool against the anti-colonial struggle to understand people's identity. When testimonies are presented by marginalized individuals in marginalized languages, it can serve as an avenue to challenge and upend power structures, elevating the significance of the listening process. Hence, this drawing series is a visual archive of the stories that belong to the people and creates a narrative of micro-histories that conventional history has not been able to tell.