Agony of the New Bed
Sheelasha Rajbhandari, 2018
Installation (set of beds)
L 31.5 cm, W 21.5 cm, H 16.5 cm each (32 pieces)

© Sheelasha Rajbhandari, John D. Marshall and Weltmuseum Wien Friends

This artwork centres on the familiar, yet often ignored reality of gender discrimination and the taboos inherent in the institution of marriage. The series of portraits, re-appropriated on cotton mattresses and placed on small marital beds are a collection of visual stories about women living in different parts of Nepal.

In the traditional conventions governing marriage in Nepal, as in many other countries, ownership of a daughter is transferred from father to husband. Brides are socially obliged to relinquish their identity before adopting that of their husbands’, to abandon their family home, their maiden name and to adopt that of their husband, whereby the same is not expected of men. This practice has contributed to the preference of sons over daughters, as daughters are expected to move into to the other’s place, while sons perpetuate the family lineage.

The primary role of the daughter-in-law is one of subservient, loyal wife and mother. It is expected not only that she is exemplary in executing her duties in household management, but that she also does her part as a breadwinner, as the case may be. Her sense of responsibility for her parents, and her own career are of secondary rank. In a country which poses a challenge even for professional women, there is an alarming number of child and forced marriages. The statistics are grim: in Nepal approximately 41 per cent of girls under eighteen years of age are married off, despite important steps that have been taken to promote gender equality, as well as government commitment to ending child marriage. As testified by numerous social studies, a high proportion of married, as opposed unmarried women, have become victims of domestic and sexual violence. Marital rape is not uncommon, and women have little or no power over their reproductive rights. These factors have contributed to the development of mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety disorders, and suicidal tendencies. And yet society and family ties continue to pressurise women to stay married, even in abusive relationships. Societal norms are powerful and often override the legislative provisions in real life situations. This tradition has continued from generation to generation, with little or no change.

Despite these challenges women have resisted, developed mechanisms to cope with the problems and fought in their own way against injustices. My work reflects the stories of such rebels.