Ashmolean NOW: Soma Surovi Jannat

In 2023 Soma Surovi Jannat (b.1990), one of the most exciting emerging artists working in South Asia, became the Ashmolean’s first artist-in-residence from Bangladesh. Jannat’s art practice arises from a profound connection with nature. Inspired by the Ashmolean collection, her recent works weave together motifs to create new imaginary worlds of forests, bodies of water, animal and human forms. The exhibition will capture the ways in which Jannat explores the climate crisis, natural disasters, and the disproportionate impact on marginalised communities and ecosystems. An artist of exceptional talent and versatility, this would be Jannat’s first solo exhibition in the UK focusing on her engagement with the Ashmolean collections and the works created between 2023 and 2026. The exhibition and book provide the Museum an opportunity to engage wider diverse audiences, while also presenting the works of a contemporary multidisciplinary artist who reflects and draws strength from our collections.