Curated by Sharmillie Rahman
Kalakendra, Lalmatia, Dhaka
‘Palash watches from within the protective bounds of the walls the tumultuous storm raging outside, reminiscent of lives being whisked away, displaced by the wind of change. In contrast, the interior reverberates with images and sounds emanating from a screen, part of an odiously calculated performance gaslighting a populace into squeamish submission. Counteracting which is another irreverent act of scratching and deflating a balloon, echoing the futility of any subversive act under the regime of control and surveillance, thus ‘exposing’ our ‘edges’ of vulnerability.'
Closed Door six pieces of archival prints (counter gaze of the video), each print size: 10 X 6.5 in on paper, solo exhibition 'Of Fragments', Kalakendra, Dhaka, 2023
Installation view
As our lives continue to be governed by forces of nature or power, this dynamic is reflected in the physical installation that accompanies 'Open Door.' The ephemerality of the installation forms embodies the interplay between multiple power structures, highlighting how these forces shape our daily existence. By incorporating materials and motifs that represent phenomena connected to memory, the work evokes a profound sense of nostalgia and personal history.
Installation view
Single-channel video and photographs, 2023
Arrow, an imaginative piece, mirrors society's tumultuous movement with anarchy, reacting to its ever-changing social and political landscape. With twists and turns, chaos reigns, giving birth to uproar, as if the very essence of anarchy is brought to life. Amidst this chaos, a performative act emerges—a symphony of noise giving birth to an uproar. It is a performance in front of the changing television screens, collectively with voice and soundscapes that evoke an absurd sensorial experience.
'Palash’s deep-rooted fear and sense of insecurity resurfaces with every single stroke drawn on the surface of the TV screen as a signification of negation. Contesting and fictionalizing the dynamics of simulation Palash posits an antithesis of absence, or in other words conjures up a presence; presence of all those who fell victim to various means of disappearance. This is “Arrow’’ in a nutshell.' -Sharmillie Rahman
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This performance was a nuanced response that stemmed from my lesson, experiences and emotions, expressed through immediate actions. The actions of this situation were conveyed using a combination of auditory and visual elements, integrating noise into the performance. The viewers were exposed to unconventional activities facilitated by high-frequency microphones, featuring institutional objects like books, notebooks, and pens associated with the text.