Sarah Zabin’s Solo Exhibition 'Choukhat' Explores Nostalgia, Memory, and Female Identity in Old Dhaka

• Visual artist Sarah Zabin held her second solo exhibition, 'Choukhat' (Threshold), at Alliance Française de Dhaka from July 31 to August 7.
• The exhibition explored themes of Old Dhaka’s fading heritage, female creativity, the fragility of memory, and generational transition.
• Zabin utilized unconventional media—including muslin, copper wire, and soap powder—to bridge the gap between past and present.

Exhibition Series

• Bon Void: Used linocut prints to trace her mother’s life stages, examining the evolution of female autonomy.
• Sharshi (Glass Pane): Featured intricate embroidery on translucent muslin to highlight the visibility and privacy of women’s lives.
• Soap Sculptures: Depicted traditional architecture of Old Dhaka using soap, symbolizing how physical heritage and memories erode over time.
• Copper Wire Formations: Created structural patterns based on household rituals to question if the spirit of tradition survives in the modern era.

Maternal Legacy and Artistic Commentary

• 'Harrowing' (Punropon): Reclaimed forgotten family photo albums from digital-age neglect by integrating them into canvas and needlework.
• 'Anecdote' (Onulipi): Honored her mother’s craft by blending lyrics from her mother’s favorite songs with personal embroidery on muslin.
• The exhibition emphasized the importance of reconnecting with one’s roots, framing the quiet artistic expressions of women as a crucial archive of social and ancestral transformation.