The Young Feminist Network was established in July 2020 by Everystory Sri Lanka to bring together people interested in learning more about feminism, particularly from a Sri Lankan and South Asian perspective. This month, our newsletter is curated on the theme of “Feminism, Design & Creativity."

Dear Reader,

We are excited to bring you this month’s Newsletter, curated around the theme of “Feminism, Design and Creativity.” The inspiration for this newsletter sparked with the launch of “Stories of Girls Resistance”, the largest-ever collection of oral and narrative history of adolescent girls’ activism to which Everystory contributed as a curator for South Asia.

The artists who brought the stories to life gave us a glimpse of how art and design are used as a form of self-reflection, self-expression, resistance, and storytelling which inspired us to dive deeper into what it means to explore design from a feminist lens.

My favourite section of this newsletter is the reading list compiled by Thilini Perera. The list is an incredible starting point for understanding the dynamics of design. While it is a friendly guide for those of us who aren’t familiar with the technicalities of design, the list extends to the politics of design; “what is good design, who decides what good design is, how is design used for advocacy and resistance” and more.

Last but not least, I hope you enjoy this newsletter as much as I did on putting it together. As always, we love to hear your thoughts and feedback. We value the complementary and the critical equally, so please share! You can get in touch via email at [email protected]

In solidarity,
Dulandi Gunasekera,
YFN Program Manager & Newsletter Editor- October 2023

Our October Reading List was curated by Thilini Perera, a multidisciplinary designer from Colombo, Sri Lanka. She has collaborated with global human rights and feminist organisations such as Frida Fund, Urgent Action Fund, and CREA.

Currently, she is the Design and Communications Manager for the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, where she leads various projects, including the Bawa 100 programme and exhibition of the Geoffrey Bawa archive presented in Colombo and Delhi and the publication Geoffrey Bawa: Drawing from the Archives.

Graphic design is about using visuals like fonts, pictures, colours, and arrangements to share ideas, information, and feelings. In our October Reading List, Thilini explores graphic design from a feminist perspective, uncovering how design is utilized to explore gender equality, inclusivity, and social justice through visual communication. It counters stereotypes, empowers marginalised groups, and engages in social and political activism.

Tracing the history of pioneering women since the 1990s such as Söre Popitz, Sylvia Harris, and Susan Kare who changed the landscape of design, the list explores the fields of typography, innovative designs of books and presenting information. Design as a tool for advocacy and resistance is through the works of feminist designers in their designs for women’s marches, mural paintings, and art with the motive of advancing social justice and amplifying the voices of marginalised groups.

Join us for our workshop on art through guided visualization with Studio Kaymai!

In the spirit of our October Newsletter on “Feminism, Design and Creativity” we are hosting a workshop in collaboration with Studio Kaymai on art through guided visualization on the 28th of October from 10 AM - 12 PM onwards.

Register using this link: https://forms.gle/EAt1NietsGoPMEcq8

Please note that by filling out the form, you will be confirming your slot at the workshop. We kindly request your attendance at the session, since the session is available for only 14 slots, and your slot was reserved on a first-come-first-serve basis. We’re offering two slots cost-free!

Upcoming Events!

Each month, we reach out to people who will reflect on the theme and share their insights on how it relates to their lives and work. For this month's interview, we reached out to Dr. Sumanthri Samarawickrama.

The Interview Segment will be released later this month!

ALSO EXPLORE!

“Imagining New Natures: Collaborations with Ena”

An exhibition celebrating a culture of collaboration in Batik Craft at the Barefoot Loft Gallery, from the 27th of October - the 9th of November 2023. The exhibition spotlights Ena's work, with a strong emphasis on her collaborative approach to creativity.

On Silence and Solitude in Eunice de Souza’s Poems

In solidarity with Palestine: Palestinian Reads

American Institute for Sri Lankan Institute (AILS) presents V.V. Ganeshananthan's Zoom talk on Brotherless Night

“Set during the early years of Sri Lanka's three-decade civil war, Brotherless Night is a heartrending portrait of one woman's moral journey and a testament to both the enduring impact of war and the bonds of home. In this searing novel, a courageous young woman tries to protect her dream of becoming a doctor as civil war devastates Sri Lanka.” - Goodreads on Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan.

The Vegetarian by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith

Our Team Member Thadini Liyanage recommends; The Vegetarian by Han Kang!

“The Vegetarian is one of those books that you simply can't put down. Kang takes you on a strange, visceral, and colourful journey of resistance, that will leave you breathless upon finishing it. We suggest leaving all preconceptions at the door and allowing yourself to be completely spellbound by this deeply unsettling yet beautiful novel.”

Read the full book here: https://archive.org/details/vegetariannovel0000hank_w5t7/mode/2up

Minor Detail by Adania Shibli, translated by Elisabeth Jaquette

Minor Detail cuts to the heart of the Palestinian experience of dispossession, life under occupation, and the persistent difficulty of piecing together a narrative in the face of ongoing erasure and disempowerment.

Work at Everystory Sri Lanka!

Send us your CV, portfolios, writing samples, or other copies of your work to [email protected]. We’re always on the lookout for creative, passionate, and curious feminists. Women identifying, transgender, non-binary, and other queer-identifying people are encouraged to apply.

Submissions are open for ‘Visible/ Invisible’: CREA’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign

If you are a feminist artist, share your creative visions of inclusive feminisms that highlight the perspectives of trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming people, people with disabilities and all others on gender-based violence (GBV).
Send your submissions to [email protected] by the 20th of October 2023.

Centre for Poverty Analysis: Younge Researchers Programme

The Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) is a dynamic and independent Think Tank providing professional services on poverty-related development issues. The 'Young Researchers Programme', headed by the Sri Lanka Barometer Consortium, hopes to educate and guide young researchers on academic integrity, evidence-based research, and producing grounded and relevant research outputs. Apply for the 6-month programme by the 20th of October.

Did you find anything in our newsletter you’d like to share with your friends and family? Our Team at Everystory Sri Lanka would love our content to be shared with as many Sri Lankan women and girls as we can reach!

Share our Newsletter subscription page: https://everystorys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Join our Whatsapp group! We share information related to opportunities, and we post details exactly when we get them:

Instagram: @everystory.sl

Facebook: @Everystory Sri Lanka