Debjani Banerjee's exhibition Jalsaghar is an intricate exploration of identity, culture, and heritage. The title, which translates from Bengali as "The Music Room", hints at a space of collaboration and cultural expression. Banerjee's works delve into the multifaceted nature of her British Bengali identity, shaped by her experiences growing up in England during the 1980s. This backdrop provides a rich tapestry for examining the layers of cultural dissonance and hybridity that define her perspective.
The title, Jalsaghar draws a thread from Satyajit Ray’s 1958 film of the same name, reinterpreting its atmosphere of listening, loss, and cultural transition through a contemporary, diasporic lens. It evokes a space of listening, intimacy and gathering, which underpins both the conceptual and material approach of the exhibition.
Originally commissioned by CCA Glasgow and supported by KARST, Jalsaghar will subsequently travel to Mimosa House.
Public Programme:
26 June
स्वागतम्
Swagatam
To open the Jalsaghar music room, Mita Pujara and Kavi Pujara will perform two pieces of music that take inspiration from traditional Bengali compositions and experiment with interpretations that reflect contemporary context of traditional cultural influences.
5 July
Ekphrastic poetry workshop with Queer Poetry Collective - times tbc
Artist bio:
Debjani Banerjee is an Edinburgh-based artist whose diverse body of work spans various mediums, including sculpture, textiles, performance, dance, film, and participatory collaborative making. Her artistic practice challenges reductive dualisms often found in post-colonial narratives, such as the dichotomies of Indian versus Western, White versus Brown, and Male versus Female. By doing so, Banerjee's work aims to present more nuanced and playful representations of cultural plurality, contemporary South Asian womanhood, and the broader human experience.
Banerjee's interests are not limited to her own creations; she is deeply engaged in workshops, participatory practices, and archival research. These elements are integral to her approach, as they foster community involvement and deeper explorations into historical and cultural contexts. Her work often involves collaboration, inviting participants to contribute to the artistic process, thereby enriching the dialogue around identity, culture, and belonging.
Poster design: Effie Type @efffietype