Screams and Dreams is a work of poly-perspective nature. The work locates itself around the arrest of activist and academic Safoora Zargar by the Delhi police. She is charged under the draconian colonial law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention)1 Act. During her time spent in police custody at the infamous Tihar Jail from 10th April to 24th June 2020, Safoora was pregnant. Later on 24th June 2020, she was released (on bail) on
humanitarian grounds. The work consists of a video, which is a conversation between Safoora and Arijit. This conversation touches on the ideas of nation, resistance and Hindu right-wing government moulding the values of India as a nation.

Based on the conversation with Safoora, the work shapes itself as an article of transformable clothing. It is a cloth that can be worn on any ordinary occasion but during protests, the dress evolves as a banner and later into a tent. The cloth in the premise of Röda Sten acts as a sculpture with a terracotta mask of Safoora. The embroidery on the cloth is inspired by Mughal miniature paintings.
 

The final part of the work is a digital print of the actual dress being used in a public space in Kolkata. Screams and Dreams is a work that reminds viewers of numerous political prisoners such as Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and many others who are victims of political oppression in India.

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Arijit Bhattacharyya in collaboration with Safoora Zargar, Binita Limbani, Owanka, Bhattacharjee, Suchandra Kundu, Chapola Biswas, Sabita Das, Pintu Halder, Prasun Moule, Kunal Pramanik, Braja Sankar Gorai, Sanat Rupray, Prnay Moule, Soumik Ghosh, Suvojit Roy, Shibayan Halder and Swagata Bhattacharyya.

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Commissioned by Röda Sten Konsthall