On December 04, 2021 EMK Center inaugurated “Naree Shutro” as a part of the global campaign ‘’16 Days of Activism against Gender-based violence.’’ The artworks of visual artist Jinnatun Jannat will be exhibited at EMK Center till December 18, 2021.
“Naree Shutro” is an exploration of the artist’s own self, her home, her country. The ‘নাড়ি’(Roots) alludes to the study of self by American philosopher George Hubert Mead. Incorporating the concept of “I”, her artworks narrate what she feels, how she feels, her own senses, and her emotions expressed from her own perspectives.
In Jinnatun Jannat’s words, “When I was a child my father would say, the home at your native village would always feel different, smell different. Growing up, I could relate to what he said, in my own home. Thus, began my exploration into the native forms, colors, and history, rediscovering the identity I truly belong to.”
In an era of cultural hybridization, one’s conscience of identity and belongingness fades away, the acknowledgment of one’s root becomes absent in their practice. Yet, no matter how one leads their life, the core develops a little bit from their mothers, the memories of childhood, and the surroundings one grew up in. This series of expressive artworks manifest the emotions and memories of the artist’s ancestral legacy.
Mustafa Zaman, an artist and art critic based in Dhaka, shared his thoughts on constructing female portraiture of Jannat’s artworks. He said that the signs and symbols re-emphasize the female body as an ‘enveloper’ of all tangible and intangible cultures. This representation of women or mothers as a central entity aligns with the purpose of the ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-based violence’ campaign. The global campaign aims to raise awareness, advocacy and eliminate all forms of gender-based violence.
The beautiful journey of discovering the connection between ‘self’ and ‘social self’ will be presented at EMK Center, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, from December 04, 2021 and will continue until December 18, 2021. 10am – 8pm. Friday and nationally holiday off. EMK Center has organized a series of virtual discussions, two exhibitions, awareness-raising workshops, and a cultural program as part of the campaign that will end on December 10, 2021.
