Gauhati Artists’ Guild, in association with North East Network, hosted an art exhibition “From the Land of Chitralekha” from 9th to 21st March at its gallery space in Chandmari. The exhibition was inaugurated by Santwana Bordoloi, eminent film and theatre director and actor.
The exhibition brought together a powerful and diverse collection of artworks by women artists from Assam, creating a space for reflection, storytelling, and artistic expression rooted in lived experiences and cultural memory.
Alongside the exhibition, a series of engaging public programmes enriched the event:
14 March — Screening of documentaries on women artists, offering deeper insight into their journeys and practices.
15 March — Aalaap: An interactive session featuring Dr. Rajkumar Mazinder in conversation with the participating artists and the audience.
Continuing the spirit of creative engagement, the Guild also hosted a special evening:
19 March – Burn the Witch — Performance & Dialogue
An evocative performance by Papari Medhi, followed by an open dialogue with the audience.
Through a compelling blend of movement, voice, and symbolism, Medhi created an immersive experience that invited the audience to witness, question, and reflect on themes of gender discrimination and violence. The performance navigated the intersections of fear, stigma, and resistance, shedding light on how gendered oppression continues to manifest in both visible and invisible ways.
What followed was an engaging open dialogue, where audience members shared responses, asked questions, and connected the themes of the performance to broader social contexts. This exchange transformed the evening into not just a performance, but a collective space of listening, introspection, and dialogue.
[Photographs by Prabin Nath]
Through cinema, conversation, and performance, From the Land of Chitralekha created a vibrant platform for artistic voices and community interaction. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made this celebration of art and dialogue truly memorable!
