‘Born into a strange universe where caged birds can sing but cannot fly, where our love is unloved, yet to die. Is everything untrue or are we?’
In my country, Bangladesh, the LGBTQI+ community is heavily suppressed, as much of the population blindly follows scriptures written over fifteen hundred years ago in a foreign land - texts that are considered sacred and beyond revision. Within this societal framework, in their own nation, LGBTQI+ individuals are denied the right to love freely; their love is criminalized under Section 377 of the British colonial-era Penal Code, which continues to outlaw homosexuality in the country. They are killed for expressing their love - on April 25, 2016, Xulhaz Mannan and Tonoy Mahbub, two gay rights activists, were hacked to death in Xulhaz Mannan’s Dhaka apartment by Islamist militants. Their love is perceived as a sin - one that must be cleansed.
Parallelly, at a certain point in life, these individuals begin to unravel their inner psyches, leading them to a deeper understanding of their true identities. This often results in a departure from the mainstream societal norms and rigid beliefs they were raised with, beliefs that had long denied them their rights and equality. As a result, many find themselves transitioning toward new systems of belief that offer acceptance on their own terms, with the freedom to express themselves truly. Meanwhile, some choose to abandon belief entirely and continue living without the need for any formal doctrine or system of faith.
“Somewhere Else Than Here” envisions the transitional journey of individuals within Bangladesh’s LGBTQI+ community, tracing their experiences of love, hope, and fantasy, while also confronting fanatical angst, homophobic isolation, and the persistent struggle to be recognized for who they truly are: human.
Installation view from my solo exhibition, titled ‘Wounds Healed, Tales Etched / দাগ’ (2024), presented by Sammlung Philara in Düsseldorf, Germany as part of the Düsseldorf photo+ Biennale for Visual and Sonic Media.