written by: News Desk

Dhaka-based multidisciplinary artist Sarah Jabin has unveiled her second solo exhibition, “Chowkath” (Threshold), at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka, presenting a compelling artistic exploration of womanhood, domestic spaces, memory, and cultural inheritance. The exhibition opened on Friday (31 July) and invites audiences to reflect on the often-overlooked narratives embedded within Bengali homes.

The opening ceremony was attended by eminent artist and writer Mustafa Zaman and the Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of France in Bangladesh.

Rooted in research, personal observation, and material culture, Chowkath highlights the quiet yet indispensable role women play in preserving family memories and cultural traditions. Through a diverse range of artistic media, the exhibition reveals how women have long served as custodians of heritage, ensuring that stories, rituals, and identities continue to flow from one generation to the next.

The title Chowkath—the Bengali word for “threshold”—extends beyond its literal meaning of a doorway. Here, it becomes a powerful metaphor for the space between the private and the public, the past and the present, and personal memory and collective history.

The exhibition is divided into four distinct bodies of work, each employing a unique artistic language to examine the evolving relationship between women, domestic life, and cultural memory.

In “Bon Void,” Sarah Jabin uses linocut prints to portray the transformation of a woman’s identity from childhood to adulthood, tracing the emotional and social dimensions of her journey.

In “The Diminished Time,” soap serves as a sculptural medium to revisit the architectural heritage of Old Dhaka’s traditional homes from the 1950s to the 1990s. The works reflect on the gradual disappearance of familiar domestic spaces and the memories they once held.

The textile-based series “Sharshi” shifts the focus to household interiors, illuminating the enduring yet frequently overlooked presence of women within these intimate environments.

Complementing these works are delicate copper-wire line drawings that capture family rituals, everyday traditions, and fragments of a cultural landscape slowly fading with time.

Through Chowkath, Sarah Jabin positions herself as both an observer and a witness to a society undergoing profound transformation. By weaving together objects, spaces, and memories, she creates a dialogue between generations, encouraging viewers to reconsider the emotional and cultural significance of the places we call home.

For older audiences, the exhibition may evoke memories of familiar houses, family customs, and lived experiences. For younger visitors, it offers a rare glimpse into the everyday worlds inhabited by their mothers and grandmothers, bridging the gap between generations through art.

More than an art exhibition, Chowkath becomes a contemplative space that invites visitors to ask: What do we preserve? What do we lose? And what remains embedded within the homes and memories that shape our identities?

By centering on womanhood, domesticity, memory, and cultural inheritance, Chowkath offers a deeply personal yet universally resonant reflection on the changing landscape of Bengali life and the fragile narratives that continue to connect generations.

The exhibition will remain open to visitors until 8 August 2026, with visiting hours from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka, Dhanmondi.