Descriptions:
In this work, I incorporate a piece acquired from a Bangladeshi artist, student, and friend, inscribing the verse “kahoon dost se dost ki baat kia kia, rahi dushmanon se mulaqaat kia kia,” to explore the complexity of (human) relationships—interpersonal, intrapersonal, spiritual, and geopolitical. This dialogue on friendship examines the delicate balance between allies and adversaries, extending beyond individuals to hint at shifting dynamics between “states,” of nationhood, being, and beyond. The rug—in this case, presumably a humble and timeless presence along the history of South Asian textiles, revisits the journey of love and diplomacy: a worn and weathered survivor speaking through the sharp, incisive burns laser cutting through the resilient jute. What does it mean to endure and persist, to remain as one transforms?
