South Asian Women’s Movements at AAA

Description

In Our Own Backyard showcases archival materials and artworks by Sheba Chhachhi and Lala Rukh, highlighting their roles as organisers and documenters of South Asian women’s movements. The exhibition features photographs, posters, sound works and ephemeral materials that capture diverse feminist activities, from workshops to street actions.

The display highlights how these materials challenge traditional archival conventions by capturing the immediacy and circulation of feminist activism, from intimate workshops and seminars to street actions and international gatherings. The exhibition’s title references a manual written by Lala Rukh during a 1987 screen printing workshop in Lahore, which empowered artists and activists to produce posters articulating demands for gender justice.

Notable works include Lala Rukh’s “Sigiriya III: Night and Subh-e-Umeed,” alongside Sheba Chhachhi’s The Yamuna Series. Contributions from feminist practitioners and organisations across the region are also featured.

An online radio station by Asian Feminist Studio for Art and Research complements the exhibition with readings, songs, and interviews, culminating in onsite gatherings.

Running until 19 August at Asia Art Archive’s CCG Library, the programme offers insight into how artists engage with communities and movements beyond individual artworks.