BEZNI

When I was a child, I loved resting my head on my mother's arm as we slept. Sometimes, her bangles made it uncomfortable, leaving imprints on my cheeks by morning. This simple event has become a core memory, one I often reflect upon. These adornments, which encircle wrists, also embody the essence of the whole body. My initial inspiration stemmed from a wall mat made by my grandmother, and since then, I've delved deeper, uncovering connections and exploring this material further. In my collection, I employed various techniques centered around bangles. These techniques include wrapping them in tulle, breaking them down, bending them into new forms, flattening, welding, and manipulating fabric through the constraint of bangles. I even hand-printed a dress using the same bangles my mother wore, where the story began. Each piece in the collection carries its distinct method, all contributing to a collective story. "Bezni" delves into the history, heritage, and bodily connection of bangles, driven by their influence on my memory. Bangles in my creation serve a dual purpose, extending beyond wrist adornment to form the structural foundation of pieces. They symbolize sentimentality and geometry, closely interwoven with the pieces themselves. Despite their ancient origins, bangles remain relevant in contemporary contexts, unified in my creations through threads and the narratives they carry. These sculptures, built around the body, demonstrate the potency of ordinary objects to convey profound meanings and evoke strong emotions. By examining the impact of these objects, the collection reveals layers of personal and cultural significance in our lives. The collection is titled "Bezni," inspired by a conversation with my mother about her teenage memories of glass bangles, commonly known as "রেশমী চুড়ি". She recalled buying them in the late afternoon with her sisters from traditional female bangle sellers, know as, "Bezni Beti," who balanced baskets filled with bangles on their heads and went house to house—a profession and word now lost to time.