Darjikhana, an art project in Santiniketan, transforms discarded garments from Bangladesh into powerful artworks, celebrating the resilience of both the materials and the people behind them. Rooted in Bangladesh's rich textile history, the project reclaims garments not just as commodities, but as cultural artefacts shaped by skilled hands in factories and looms.
Siddharth Sivakumar, curator of the Bengal Biennale, explains, “To create these works in Bangladesh is to root them in a land where garments are both lifeblood and legacy. By reclaiming these garments as art,
Darjikhana also reclaims the dignity of the labour that brought them into being.”
The project also challenges political and cultural borders between Bangladesh and West Bengal. Despite occasional tensions,
Darjikhana is firmly planted in Santiniketan, a town known for its cultural exchange, reaffirming the shared ties between the two Bengals. Sivakumar adds, “Art, like the rivers that flow between these lands, refuses to be contained by contours on a map.”
Through the transformation of discarded materials,
Darjikhana highlights the value of what is often overlooked, turning it into a symbol of resilience. “Creation is an act of connection, and connection, in turn, builds community,” Sivakumar concludes, capturing the essence of this art project.
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