Award 17: Stitching Bangladesh

Stitching Bangladesh was our 17th grantee!

The artist Farida Yesmin created live participatory performance in two parts at a time of state upheaval in Bangladesh. Student protests/uprising during summer 2024 led to an ungoverned country, and ongoing political uncertainty. Taking place in East London and inspired by true life events and personal experiences, the Folkestone based artist draws questions around asylum and migration, trauma and healing, women and marginalised gendered positionalities during state upheaval through direct political action in the form of Live Art.

Stitching Bangladesh began with an intimate workshop for Bangladeshi women and queer people at House of Annetta, a space just off Brick Lane with a focus on experimental learning and community resistance. The workshop created a space for healing and fostered a network of support, while releasing emotion through the cathartic praxis of cuttin

g and ripping a giant flag, communicating verbally, non-verbally and through folk sonics (humming/singing).

Yesmin then proceeded to the culturally significant site of Altab Ali Park, named after a Bangladeshi migrant worker who was murdered during a violent racist attack during the 70s. Now used as a site for local communities to gather, recent events include rallies in support of the student protests in Bangladesh in Summer 24. At the park Farida, workshop participants and anyone who wished to join re-stitched the flag together as a durational performance, act of resistance and solidarity.