My Home, My Bari room installation featuring 1970s interior design, by Rahemur Rahman and his students.

The main installation features wallpaper designed by the students using block printing and screen printing, and traditional Bengali bangles hung side-to-side. © Kois Miah

My Home, My Bari exhibition: Celebrating the British Bangladeshi experience in London

2 December 202128 March 2023 Gulistan Elidemir

Walk into a 1970s British-Bengali home through the immersive My Home, My Bari exhibition created by local fashion designer, Rahemur Rahman.

In celebration of the 50 years of Bangladeshi Independence, Tower Hamlets Council commissioned acclaimed artist and British-Bangladeshi fashion designer, Rahemur Rahman, to create a collaborative and singular installation showcasing at the Kobi Nazrul Centre.

The exhibition ‘My Home, My Bari’ aims to take its visitors back in time using smells, sights and textures to bring history to life through a representation of the living spaces of the community around Brick Lane in 1971, as conflict raged back in Bangladesh.

As part of the council’s series of Bangladesh at 50 events, the installation was created as a result of the nine-month participatory project with artists, young people, and local business owners of the Brick Lane area.

Young people from the borough took part in summer workshops to create their own wallpaper which is part of the fabric of the artwork. Local business owners from the British-Bangladeshi community have also shared their stories as part of the wider project, which is displayed around the room of the exhibition. Read their testimonial stories through the My Home My Bari website.

Artist Rahemur Rahman said: “For several decades, Brick Lane and the surrounding area have been central to the diversity and dynamism of east London, as well as the evolution of a multicultural Britain.”

“My Home, My Bari is meaningful, evocative, hyperlocal and a brilliant way to encourage debate as well as connect audiences and communities who are currently excluded from meaningful participation in the arts.”

The exhibition will showcase from 26 November to 14 December at the Kobi Nazrul Centre, 30 Hanbury St, London E1 6QR.

Along with the installation, there will also be panel discussions and guided walks. For more information on the events and bookings visit the exhibition Eventbrite.

Chef Atik posing beside a painting of a Bangladeshi village, Brick Lane. — Chef Atik, the owner of Graam Bangla, posing beside a painting featuring a Bangladeshi village.

Owner Shamsuddin posing from inside The Monsoon, Brick Lane. — Owner Shamsuddin, also known as Shams, who opened The Monsoon in 1989. The restaurant is full of beautiful artwork which depicts Bengali villages.

Shamim Ali posing by the window that features a map of Bangladesh, Brick Lane. — Shamim Ali, who has been running Meraz Café since 1993.

Guljar Khan posing from inside Masala restaurant, Brick Lane. — Guljar Khan, the chair of the Banglatown Restaurant Association posing in the Masala restaurant.

Owner Azmal Hussain posing from inside Preem restaurant, Brick Lane. — Azmal Hussain in Preem restaurant, who is the owner of a few more restaurants in Brick Lane. He opened Preem in 1999.

Jamal Khaliq posing outside Taj Stores, Brick Lane. — Abdul Khayum Khaliq, also known as Jamal or Jamal Khaliq. One of the brothers who own the Taj Stores and the Taj Group of companies.

If you enjoyed this article you may also like to read My Home My Bari: Rebuilding the loss of home.

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