Dhiraj Rabha’s Powerful Installation at Kochi-Muziris Biennale Reflects on Insurgency

At the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, artist Dhiraj Rabha presents a poignant installation that encapsulates the haunting memories of Assam's insurgency. His work, titled "The Quiet Weight of Shadows," features remnants of an Assamese household, shrouded in soot and partially burned, symbolizing the turbulent past of the region during the 1990s.

Rabha, born in 1995 and raised in a former detention camp, draws from personal experiences to explore themes of displacement and resilience. His installation incorporates various mediums, including photography and archival materials, to document the lives of those affected by the insurgency.

The installation showcases a garden of carnivorous plants that glow under blue UV light, symbolizing the media's consuming narratives that overshadow complex realities. Accompanied by audio broadcasts from the 1990s, these plants highlight the duality of beauty and danger, inviting viewers to explore deeper layers of meaning.

Rabha reflects on his upbringing in the camp, stating, "I spent my entire childhood inside the camp, which felt normal to me. It wasn’t until I left for Shantiniketan that I realized our life was not typical." His project aims to amplify voices often silenced in mainstream narratives, creating a record of experiences that diverge from official accounts.

The installation also features eight watchtowers, reminiscent of surveillance structures in detention camps, which display video interviews with former members of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). These towers serve as both a metaphor for oppression and a repository of testimonies about loss and aspiration.

Additionally, Rabha's film, "Whispers Beneath the Ashes," complements the installation by following children in search of home amidst instability, further emphasizing the inherited trauma of those growing up in conflict.

The sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, which began on December 12, features works from 66 artists across 22 venues, offering a rich program of performances, talks, and screenings until March 31, 2026.