Future Collaboration
Future Collaboration was conceived of by four artists, all of whom had previously collaborated on the Cheragi Art Show (CAS), and who have carried out individual projects with Indigenous communities in Bangladesh: Joydeb Roaza, Yuvraj Zahed A. Chowdhury, Zihan Karim, and Shohrab Jahan. Building on earlier work, Future Collaboration, located in Jivatali, was a collaborative project with the local Chakma, Marma, and Tangchinga communities which intended to share their various issues, dreams, languages, and their lived experience in the hills through different mediums and manners. The artists wanted to do something that would be sustainable and have an impact on the future.
Artist Joydeb Rowaja and Abu Naser Robi’s projects combat water hyacinth overgrowth by turning it into a sustainable solution. Collaborating with local communities, they built floating farms using hyacinths and native plants. This addresses the limited land for farming while utilising the abundant hyacinth and creating a model for community benefit.
Zahed Ali Chowdhury’s project delves into the enduring pain of the Kaptai Hydropower Project, South Asia's largest man-made lake. Through a poignant conversation with Ajit Kumar Dewan, a descendant of displaced Chakma royalty now turned fisherman, and the melancholic image of the vast lake, the artist lays bare the unresolved grief and loss echoing in the lives of those forever impacted by the project's construction.
Fading threads of tradition get a chance at revival in Hlubaishu’s art project. Exploring Bainnu, the Chakma women's waist-weaving art, it documents the passion of Shubodini, who keeps it alive and reconnects with Lina, whose connection to it had dwindled. Through dialogue, learning the craft, and creating new pieces, the project aims to not only preserve cultural knowledge but also empower women to reclaim their artistic heritage and weave a vibrant future for Bainnu.
Zihan Karim’s project aimed to revitalise the Chakma language and alphabet among children in Jibtali, Bangladesh. Initially focused on storytelling, the project shifted to drawing pictures using the Chakma alphabet. With the help of local children and artist Hlubaishu Chowdhury, an alphabet book was created featuring the children's artwork and incorporating riddles and poems in the Chakma language. This book serves as an archive for the community and a reminder of the importance of their language and cultural identity.
Lastly, the project by Falguni Chakma aimed to revitalise the fading art, culture, and traditions of the Chakma community in Jivatali village, Bangladesh. Recognising that the younger generation had become focused on fishing for their livelihood and neglecting their heritage, the artist organised traditional games and showcased bamboo and cane handicrafts made by a local expert. The goal was to remind the community of their rich cultural roots and encourage them to embrace and practise their traditions alongside their daily lives.