Silent Struggle II

Hanusha Somasunderam's work attempts to share the struggle faced by upcountry plantation workers in Sri Lanka. This struggle has existed for over a hundred years without a solution or public attention. Although they live in the highlands of the country closer to the clouds and sky their living conditions are so poor. They contribute to the country’s economy and suffer hardship in return. In these works she explores the plight of the tea estate workers who work hard to get their daily wages, contend with nature; landslides, leeches and climate only to bear the strain of what life dictates on account of their work.

She uses locally-used handmade strainers and tea bags as sculptural materials. Together they conceptually embody the strain suffered by this community, which seeps into every aspect of their lives along with that of their offspring, like an indelible stain that marks you for life.