Meeras Pavilion

Artwork description

Meeras Pavilion is a large-scale, interactive temporary public artwork co-designed by Rohingya and Australian artists. It celebrates creativity, culture and existence beyond narratives of victimhood and statelessness.

The pavilion’s striking design was inspired by imagery that emerged through extensive conversations between Rohingya artists, humanitarian organisations and creative collaborators.

A fan of taro leaves sweeps down and encloses the pavilion, in reference to a Rohingya proverb, “Hosu-fatar-faani”, which means “water leaves no trace on a taro leaf”. The proverb evokes the feeling of statelessness experienced by Rohingya people who have had their history in Myanmar erased, citizenship removed, been pushed off their homeland and prohibited from building a life as the live in limbo in refugee camps or dispersed cities across the world.

The taro leaves arch out from the centre of the pavilion, echoing the form of a banyan tree native to Myanmar. This tree symbolises Rohingya’s long connection to the motherland and provides familiar shelter for community gathering.

A series of cultural events co-curated by Sydney’s Rohingya community, including a panel discussion, pop-up performances, workshops, photography exhibition and documentary will help mark the opening of the work. See session dates and times.

Learn more about the development of Meeras Pavilion.