From Dhaka to Paris: How one artist transformed the Grand Palais into Korail
Through quilts, sculptures, and dreamcatchers, one artist turned discarded materials and forgotten voices into something unforgettable — and gave Korail a place on the world stage
When the patchworked panels of 'Quilts of Resilience' were finally suspended beneath the soaring glass dome of the Grand Palais in Paris, it felt like something quietly magical had happened.
A piece of Korail— Dhaka's largest informal settlement — had made its way onto one of the world's grandest cultural stages. But it wasn't there to evoke pity, nor was it wrapped in sobering statistics. It stood proudly, stitched with memory, dignity, and strength, telling its own story.
The event, a celebration of global craft and creativity, was inaugurated by none other than French President Emmanuel Macron. And for artist Suborna Morsheada, who was in Paris for the occasion, the moment still hadn't fully sunk in. Supported by the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF), artist Suborna Morsheada traveled to Paris for the occasion—but the moment still hadn't fully sunk in.
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"It still feels unreal," she shared with The Business Standard over the phone. Her installation, 'Against All Odds – The Korail Chronicles', marked a major milestone — it was Bangladesh's first-ever entry at the Révélations International Fine Craft & Creation Biennial, one of the world's most prestigious events for contemporary artisanship. Held from 21 to 25 May 2025, the Biennial featured over 400 artists from across continents, all gathering under the iconic dome of the Grand Palais.
"It was deeply emotional to see something that was born in Korail being shown here," Suborna said. "It's like carrying untold stories from Dhaka right into the heart of Paris."
Korail: The heart of the work
The journey began with a walk through Korail's maze-like alleys. Amid the tin roofs and tangled wires, one moment stuck with the artist.
"A little boy told me the name of his favourite street dog is Raja. The way he spoke about him with pride and love was beautiful," she shared.
That moment found its way into the final work: a small stitched silhouette of a dog, quietly tucked into one of the quilt patches.
From the start, this wasn't about showing poverty. It was about showing spirit. In Korail, materials most would consider trash—poly packets, jute scraps, broken wires—are repurposed, reused, and reimagined every day.
"People in Korail are constantly transforming what they have. I just followed their lead," Suborna says.
A story in three parts
The installation was divided into three powerful sections: 'The Phoenix of Renewal' — a large sculpture made from metal scraps symbolising transformation and rebirth. 'Quilts of Resilience' — hand–stitched panels made in collaboration with women from the community, each telling a story of strength and solidarity. 'Threads of Hope' — dreamcatchers created with help from Korail's residents, each reflecting their dreams and aspirations.
It wasn't just art, it was storytelling, stitched together by many hands.
That spirit of collaboration ran deep. "This wasn't something I made about them—it became something we built together," Suborna says. The women of Korail contributed fabric, stories, and stitching. Every patch became more than cloth—a living piece of someone's memory.
Later, artist Sajidul Haque joined the project, bringing his voice and vision to the work.
Of course, telling these stories wasn't always easy. "There's a fine line between showing struggle and romanticising it," she admits. "I had to keep asking myself—is this respectful? Is it true to their strength, not just their pain?"
The reaction in Paris was moving, and many visitors were taken aback, not just by the beauty of the pieces, but by where they came from.
"They didn't expect such refined, emotional work to come out of what they thought of as a 'slum.' But that's exactly the point," Suborna says. "It challenged what they thought they knew. People lingered. They asked questions. That meant the most to me."
The installation did more than just impress. It opened up a conversation. And in a world so often divided by class, geography, and assumption, that's where change begins.
Behind the scenes
Getting the installation to Paris was far from smooth.
"The phoenix sculpture had to be taken apart and put back together more than once. Customs officers didn't know what to make of our materials. We were terrified the quilts would be damaged by the humidity," she laughs.
None of it would've been possible without the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF), whose support made the whole journey happen.
"They believed in this project from the start," she says. "And they handled every bump in the road with so much care. Once the work was finally installed, it felt like it had always belonged there."
More than just art
For Suborna, this project wasn't just about craft. It was about voice.
"Craft is memory, resistance, identity. It's how we speak when we've been pushed to the margins. And when those voices are finally heard, it resonates," she says.
For artists from the Global South, moments like this are about more than being seen. "We're not just contributing to the conversation — we're changing it. That's the power of telling your own story."
From a little boy and his dog to conversations in Paris, from discarded scraps to stitched dreams. 'Against All Odds' wasn't just an installation. It was a message, that beauty lives in unlikely places, and when we listen—truly listen—we find stories stitched with strength, pride, and endless hope.
