The dress of Tipu Sultan
A two-day performance by Yasmin Jahan Nupur, a leading contemporary
artist from Bangladesh.
In this performance, Nupur uses specially handwoven muslin-jamdani as a
signifier of power and consumption embedded in the contested and violent
history of the subcontinent.
A highly revered, translucent cotton cloth from
Bengal, muslin embellished with jamdani (woven pattern) has been celebrated
over the centuries for its mesmerising allure and feather-light texture, often
compared to moonlight or the morning dew. This fine cloth made from a
labour-intensive process historically adorned the richest of rulers in the
subcontinent and attracted a lucrative overseas trade.
This performance will take place alongside Nupur’s works on display in the
exhibition, Beyond Borders, connecting the rich and complex history of muslin
and jamdani. Growing up in Bangladesh Nupur was aware of how muslin had
been celebrated across the world but equally, was deeply affected by the
legacies and impact of British colonialism. “There are entire generations of
Bengali men and women who have grown up with legendary stories of how
the British cut off the thumbs of weavers so they could no longer produce
muslin and were forced to buy British goods. This history constantly hurts
me”.
The 18 th century saw significant political, social and economic changes to the
subcontinent. It was a time when the area, which once incorporated Pakistan
and Bangladesh, (amongst other South Asian countries) was under the
administrative control of the British East India Company. Numerous battles
were fought and aggressive advances were made to dominate and control
trade.
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