The Goethe-Institut Bangladesh and Drik Picture Library inaugurated an international travelling exhibition at the Drik Gallery in Dhaka's Panthapath Friday to showcase the violence of gender constructions, and patriarchal forms of aggression on more vulnerable bodies.

Curated by Vidisha Fadescha, "Let no one mistake us for the fruit of violence" is part of the Goethe-Institut's ongoing M3: Man, Male and Masculinity regional Project which includes Bangladesh and five other institutes in India.

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"We wanted to work with the themes that question our existing ideas on masculinity. Along with the exhibition, we also had workshops with children and comic books produced under the project," Goethe-Institut Bangladesh Director Kirsten Hackenbroch said at the event.

Shahidul Alam, photographer and founder of Drik Picture Library, said: "One of our visions behind creating Drik was to challenge the stereotypical views and notions about gender in society. We hope to continue to work closely with Goethe-Institut and turn our building into a thriving space of inclusion and diversity."

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Let no one mistake us for the fruit of violence critiques expected and isolated representations of men, while celebrating gender affinities through collectivity, home, family, and intimacy.

The exhibition showcases work by Ashfika Rahman, a contemporary visual artist from Bangladesh, Tsohil Bhatia from New Delhi, Renuka Rajiv from Bangalore, Sandeep Kuriakose from New Delhi, Anurag Minus Verma from Jaipur and Javed Sultan from Delhi.

"There is no exact word for masculinity in Tripura language, the language that I speak. There is a closer word called 'Chalabi' which means women who are as strong as men," Joydeb Roaja, an indigenous artist from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, said.

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"As an artist, my views have been shaped and changed by socio-cultural settings. It is important to challenge our views."  

The visual art exhibition at the Drik Gallery is open to visitors from 3pm to 8pm every day till August 30.