Colours of Shared Dreams

September 16, 2022

Colours of Shared Dreams

Our mothers and grandmothers used to make paintings on walls, aripana designs on the ground for rituals, and mould clay into objects of offerings and rituals. We continue this lineage of art to express both our celebrations and tribulations. For Maithil women our lives are a tapestry of complex traditions, kinships, struggles, and resilience. In a society that continues to limit our freedom, we stitch our place in history, in full colour.

Our sisters were pioneers in translating a language of walls to one of paper. They opened a window for us to explore a whole new dimension. There are fantasies here. The roars of creatures from our kaleidoscopic imagination, of jungles that once were, all a part of a whimsical, vibrant nature. There are also aspirations of women who fly planes, who drive tractors, who independently raise their children, and even venture into space.

Many of us have been pushed to the periphery because of our caste or gender. Observed together, our visions not only represent our individual voices, but also lead to a critical reflection that challenges the established patriarchal structures of power that affect our lives.

For the past 30 years from Janakpur, we have worked to create narratives that weave us together. We invite you to be a witness to our journey and to immerse yourself in the colours of these shared dreams and imaginations of futures.

साझा सपनाके रंग सभ

हमर माई आ दिदीसभ देवालमे चित्रसभ बनावै छलैय , जमिनमे ऐरपन आ पुजाके समानमे माटिके लेप लगाके बनाबे छलैय। हमसव यी कला परम्पराके निरन्तरता अप्पन उत्सव आ कष्ट दुनु अभिव्यक्त करेला जारी राखले छिअई । मैथिल महिला सभके लागि हमर सबके जीवन जटिल परम्परा, नाता , संघर्ष आ लचिलाेपनके टेपेस्ट्री हई । हमर स्वतन्त्रताके सीमित करेवला यी समाज, इतिहासमे हम अप्पन स्थान रङ्ग सभ से बुने चाहे छिअई ।

हम्मर दिदीबहिन सभ देवालके भाषाके एकटा कागजमे अनुवाद करेला अग्रगामी छलैय । उसभ हमरा लागि पूर्ण नँया आयाम खाेज करेला एकटा द्वार खाेईलदेल्के । जत्त कल्पनासभ हई । हम्मर क्यालिडाेस्काेपिक कल्पनाबाटे निकलल प्राणी सभके गर्जन जे कोनाे समय एकटा जीवन्त जङ्गल , प्राकृतिके अंश छलइ । सँगै विमान उडावे , ट्रयाक्टर चलावे, बेटाबेटीके स्वतन्त्र रूपमे बढावेके आ अन्तरिक्ष भ्रमणमे जाईवला साहसी महिला सभके आकांक्षा सेहाे हई ।

हम्मर जात वा लिङ्गके कारण हमरा मेसे बहुतै गाेरा परिधिमे पछइरगेले । एकरा संगै अवलोकन करे बेरमे अप्पन दर्शनसभ हम्मर व्यक्तिगत आवाजके मात्र नै भके हम्मर जीवनके असर करेबला स्थापित पितृसत्तात्मक शक्तिके संरचना सबके चुनाैती देवे बला आलोचनात्मक प्रतिविम्वके सेहाे प्रतिनिधित्व करै हई ।

विगत ३० बर्षसे हम सब जनकपुरसे हमरा सभके जाेडेबला कथासभ सिर्जना करेके काम कइले छिअई । हम अहाके हम्मर यात्राके साक्षी बनेला आ यी साक्षा सपना सभ आ भविष्यके कल्पना सभके रंग सभमे डुबेला आमन्त्रित करेछिअई ।

Artists:

Amrita Dutta, Anjali Kumari Shah, Anjana Das, Anjira Mandal, Anuragi Jha, Bhagwati Singh, Chandani Jha, Chandrarekha Yadav, Dulari Mandal, Gangawati, Gita, Galo Devi, Galo Mandal, Hira Karna, Indrakala Nidhi, Indu Mishra, Jagataran Mandal, Janaki, Jayakali Mukhiya, Julee Sah, Komal Purbe, Kusum Mandal, Madhumala Mandal, Mamata Chaudhary, Manjula Devi Thakur, Nirmala Ram, Pano Das, Prem Mishra, Phulo Mukhiya, Rajani Mandal, Rajkumari M, Rajkumari Mandal, Ranibati Mukya, Rebati Mandal, Rina Mandal, Remani Mandal, Renu Yadav, Sangeeta Sah, Sanichiri Mandal, Selo Yadav, Sribati Mandal, Sudhira Karna, Suhagbati, Sulekha Sah, Sulekha Karna, Sumitra Mahaseth, Sumitra Yadav, Sunaina Karna, Sunita Sah, Sunita Sharma, Ukha Karna.

Organized by Janakpur Women's Development Center

Team:

Project Coordinators : Sheelasha Rajbhandari and Hit Man Gurung

Exhibition Design : Shreeti Prajapati

Program Coordination : Tenzing SedonLa Ukyab Lama

Exhibition Production : Dipak Lama and Subas Tamang

Project Management : Satish Sah

Logistic Coordination : Urmila Gamwa Tharu

Special Thanks : Claire Burkert Founder of JWDC

Volunteers : Samna Rai, Rasna Shrestha, Sabina Rai, Pursottam Chaudhary

Acknowledgement : Kshitiz Matrai, Nepal Art Council, Dipti Sherchan, Mekh Limbu, Lavkant Chaudhary, Priyankar Bhadhur Chand, Kala Kulo