17/01/2026
Title: Four Months’ Arrears Wage of a Tea Labourer
Medium: Water-based woodcut
This water-based woodcut was created after my visit to Sreemangal, where I traveled to Madhabpur Lake and listened to the story of a tea labourer whose wages had been unpaid for four consecutive months. Her quiet suffering and resilience left a deep emotional impact on me, which became the core inspiration for this artwork.
The figure carries a large teacup on her back, from which a tea plant grows. The cup symbolizes both labor and burden, while the growing plant represents endurance, hope, and life sustained through hardship. The worker’s bowed posture reflects exhaustion, yet her steady movement forward suggests silent strength and perseverance. The earthy tones and textured surface of the woodcut echo the harsh realities of plantation life, while the simplicity of the composition emphasizes the dignity of labor.
As a fresher artist, I use my practice as a means of storytelling and social engagement. Through this work, I aim to raise my voice for tea labourers whose struggles are often ignored or normalized. My intention is not to romanticize poverty, but to reveal the human cost behind an industry built on routine consumption and silence.
By working with the woodcut medium, I intentionally chose a process that demands physical effort and patience, mirroring the labor-intensive lives of tea workers. This artwork reflects my belief that art can act as a quiet but powerful form of protest. Through visual narration, I seek to create empathy, awareness, and a sense of responsibility in the viewer.
