embroidered panel

proverb

boson

In frames: Rohingya wit

EMB0170

Sharing boson (proverbs) to hand down cultural wisdom from one generation to the next is in fabric of Rohingya culture. As CMC Rohingya women artisans themselves suggested the idea to illustrate proverbs with their needlecraft, artist-in-residence Farzana Urmi and art facilitator Saleha Akter Urmi led this project playing with challenges of translating the richness of oral culture to embroidery art. Rohingyalish (a simplified Rohingya script using Latin alphabets) used in the artwork lets you experience the sound of the boson while appreciating the evocative yet naïve drawings from the Rohingya artisans of the camp. Bóine musa bañdé,báiyé uñsa sañsé. English proverb: A friend in need is a friend indeed. Literal Translation: When the sister packs up food in banana leaves, the brother only polishes the stick. Meaning: Sisters are thought to be the more loving and selflessly giving sibling than the brothers. Sisters pack up food, while the brother❜s use of stick suggests a hint of danger. The cultural notion is sisters will support even after they get married; brothers, on the other hand, might be misguided by their wives, and not be of much help later.