Bodhu Boron

## Artist Statement: Bodhu Boron Through *Bodhu Boron*, I explore the silent emotional realities of traditional Bangladeshi brides caught between cultural expectation and personal autonomy. Drawing inspiration from the bold outlines and flat, expressive color blocks of Jamini Roy’s folk style, I reinterpret heritage art to address a contemporary societal truth. The large, almond-shaped eyes capture a profound, lingering melancholy, while the hand masking her mouth symbolizes enforced compliance and the loss of personal choice. This piece serves as both a cultural tribute and a quiet critique, inviting viewers to look beyond the vibrant surface of marital rituals and confront the internal struggles of women conforming to parental decisions.

## Bodhu Boron (The Bride's Welcome) Inspired by the iconic, bold folk style of Jamini Roy, *Bodhu Boron* captures the bittersweet essence of a newlywed Bangladeshi bride. Painted with flat colors and striking, almond-shaped eyes, the artwork portrays her adorned in traditional jewelry and a deep green veil. Her hand delicately covers her mouth—a poignant symbol of her enforced silence and compliance. Trapped within rigid societal expectations, her piercing gaze reflects a quiet, underlying melancholy, embodying the internal struggle of a young woman conforming to her parents' decisions without a choice in her own destiny.