Singing Grove

Singing Grove explored the relationship between nature's elements and memory, oral traditions and performative inheritance. Through instruments, sound, and cultural narratives, aged artifacts and literature were presented to a new age, opening up modern artistic synchronization within an institutional embodiment.

Research-based artifacts, crafts, creative writing, audio-visual work and prints stood as metaphors for nature's right to survive and sustain generational shifts in accordance with global circumstances.

The grove served as a metaphoric archive of Bengali traditional art, artists, cultural activism and intergenerational blending — with children playing throughout, experiencing what was unknown to them and adapting those echoes.

The opening included a seed plantation ceremony with Jakir Hossain, Kha Ma Harun, Shahidul Alam and ASM Rezaur Rahman. Exhibits included Bairag, an experimental gourd zither; a pair of buffalo horns connected with Moishali gan of North Bangladesh; a 150-year-old traditional lute with restoration footage on display; traditional wooden percussion shells; and indigenous Santali instruments. A Behula Lakkhindar puthi reading ceremony was led by Puthimaster Akbar Ali Mondal, interpreting Manasamangal kabya translations. The exhibition was extended with a virtual tour.