This exhibition is part of 36 JULY, the main exhibition at HuMBASEpartout, Eckartshaldenweg 7, 70191 Stuttgart, supplemented by a lecture performance on the protest movement at Projektraum Oberwelt e. V., Reinsburgstraße 93, 70197 Stuttgart on 21 September at 7 pm
36 JULY ‘A visual archive of the July Revolution in Bangladesh’
Curators note for 36 july:
36 days of the students protest during July-August with rightful demands, known as the ‘July revolution’ in Bangladesh has recently made history. Sheikh Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh as Prime Minister for 15 years, resigned and fled the country on 5th August 2024 as student and civilian protesters took over her official residence in the capital Dhaka.
The student movement started as a protest against the discriminating quota system in government jobs has been a powerful force advocating for merit-based opportunities and equitable access to employment. Eventually it turned into a massive revolution that reformed the history of the country. Besides the large population of student protesters, a large pool of artists, musicians, and all other creative workers contributed significantly during the movement, using their talents and expressions.
The significance of these creative expressions lies in their ability to convey complex realities beyond the political surveillance and censorship, making the movement more powerful. These artistic contributions immortalize the spirit of the movement and inspire future activism. The synergy of art and activism during the movement clearly demonstrate how art can be a vital tool for political and social transformation.
This exhibition titled “36 JULY” is a platform to recognize the contributions of artist activist in the protest and an impulse to archive the historic discourse of those 36 days of the movement for future generations.
This exhibition is a cartographic reflection of incidents through illustration, digital works, photography, audio, documentation of graffiti, cartoon and textual works for the audience to visit, reflect, read and take a moment to think. This can be substance for global awareness, shared dialogue and solidarity.
Sadya Mizan
With research support from Fouzia Mahin Choudhury, Swilin Haque, Foysal Mahamood, Tanvir Mahmud Abir, Ruhina Ferdous and Ahmed Rasel. Cartoon resource collaborator for the exhibition are the earki and the Bangladesh Cartoonist Association.
With the kind support of Akademie Schloss Solitude, HuMBASEpartout, Oberwelt, Rosspartner Werbetechnik, Ritter Sport, GEISTUNDGELD e.V., SV SparkassenVersicherung, Wüstenrot Stiftung and Kulturamt Stuttgart