The words, "What you touch, you change. What you change, changes you," perfectly capture the essence of "Nalini", an exhibition by French-Brazilian artist and printmaker Julia Lebrao Sendra. Hosted at Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) in Dhanmondi, this thought-provoking exhibition delved deep into the fragile relationship between humans and their environment, using the Buriganga river as both a subject and metaphor.

The journey of the project began with Julia's residency at Brihatta Art Foundation in Hazaribagh, Dhaka. This foundation, renowned for its community-driven approach to art, provided her with a platform to explore the cultural, social, and environmental complexities of Dhaka's urban fabric. During this residency, her initial focus on local healing rituals evolved into a larger narrative centred on the broken connection between the riverbank communities and the Buriganga. This shift in focus unearthed a profound theme of solastalgia — A term coined by philosopher Glenn Albrecht to describe the emotional distress caused by the loss of connection to one's environment due to climate change or human activity.

The title "Nalini", meaning lotus, is rich with symbolism. The lotus is a flower that thrives in polluted water, embodying resilience and the ability to emerge beautiful and untainted despite adversity. Julia's work reflects this duality, drawing attention to the potential for beauty and hope even in the most challenging circumstances. "During my residency, I aimed to create a reverse portrait of the Buriganga river — not through its presence but its absence of clarity and connection. I explored what it carries despite itself: pollution, neglect, and the fractured link between humans and nature."

Dhaka's relationship with the Buriganga mirrors a global crisis. Once a lifeline of the capital city, the river has been reduced to a neglected backdrop, polluted and disregarded. Julia's work transformed this loss into a call for figuratively healing the subject, using symbols, colours, and patterns inspired by her daily experiences in Dhaka. Her art invited viewers to reflect on their own connection to nature and the consequences of their actions. At the heart of "Nalini" was an interactive installation, featuring two bowls of water, a collection of colourful handmade soaps, and a traditional gamcha cloth. 

Visitors were invited to wash their hands and as the soaps dissolved with each wash, they served as a metaphor for the gradual degradation of the environment caused by human negligence. At the same time, this act of washing — symbolic of cleansing — reminded participants of their responsibility to protect and preserve natural resources. Julia transformed a mundane act into a social commentary on environmental fragility and human impact, leaving a lasting impression on those who experienced it.

Julia's creative process is as unique as her perspective. During her residency, she embraced the materials and objects around her, turning them into canvases for her art. From medical boxes gifted by her mother to matchboxes, broken bangles, flowers, and gamchas, her work reflects her innovative approach to storytelling through found objects. These art pieces capture the essence of Puran Dhaka and Hazaribagh, offering a deeply personal yet universally relatable narrative. In her series of artworks, she dissected the dynamics of gender and social spaces in Dhaka. "Social spaces in Dhaka are often male-dominated," she noted. "Through my work, I wanted to highlight the need for balance and the connection between men and women." 

Organised jointly by AFD and Brihatta Art Foundation, "Nalini" is the culmination of a three-month residency programme that bridged artistic collaboration between Villa Swagatam, Institut Français in Delhi, French Embassy in Bangladesh, Alliance Française de Dhaka, and Brihatta Art Foundation. The exhibition concluded yesterday.

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