A Patchwork of Life through Pain
A Dystrophy Survivor’s Journey of Transmuting Chronic Pain into Works of Art
Next Exhibition
19 – 27 April, 2024
La Galerie, Alliance française de Dhaka
26 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi; Dhaka, Bangladesh
Stitched Collage
Collage art, starting in ancient China with the invention of paper about two millenia ago has embraced textures and materials across cultures and centuries. In this narrative, Suranjana Bhattacharja, with her hand-stiched collage emerges as a distinctive voice. Her work is a fusion of fabric and visual storytelling marked by its rich texture and narrative depth. Blending traditional sewing with contemporary artistry, this particular genre of collage opens new avenues for expression within the tactile and visual realm. Drawing from personal battles with the pain caused by Dystrophy, her work adds a profound layer to collage, marrying her unique perspective and style with the medium’s historical tapestry.
Meet the Artist
Suranjana Bhattacharja, a Bangladesh-born, Montreal-based artist, transforms her Dystrophy-induced pain into stitched collages, merging creativity with resilience. Inspired by Kandinsky and Matisse, she lets her sewing skills narrate tales of beauty and struggle. Suranjana says, “the fabric pieces, seemingly with minds of their own, guide the storytelling.” This unique interplay crafts a vivid tapestry of Eastern and Western influences, where each thread weaves its own survival story. Her work, a celebration of art’s transformative power, resonates deeply, embodying hope and the enduring spirit of overcoming adversity. Suranjana’s collages stand as a testament to art’s role in shaping life’s challenges into inspiring narratives.
