Echoes of National Identities: The Resilient Art of the Panjeri Union

The Panjeri Artists' Union, part of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, showcases artwork reflecting the history of West Bengal residents who lived through four different national identities. Their art, primarily using jute, draws on personal experiences of partition and conflict, expressing cultural resistance and resilience.

In a captivating exhibit at the sixth Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the Panjeri Artists' Union delves into the rich tapestry of history experienced by those over 75 in Habra, West Bengal. The collective showcases the lives of those who have lived through four distinct national identities, from British India to today's independent India.

Originating from Banipur, the Panjeri Union comprises 14 artists from diverse backgrounds, who employ jute in their artwork to symbolize the region's historic ties to jute cultivation and its decline due to industrialization and globalization. The collective's works reflect transition, partition, and refugee experiences, often represented through net-like grids depicting instability.

The Biennale, running for 110 days, features the Panjeri Union among 66 global artists, fostering conversations on contemporary practices. Their art is not just an exhibit but a voice for cultural resistance, inviting art lovers to engage with stories of resilience and transformation in the face of adversity.