Sister Library

Sister Library, led by Indigenous artist aqui Thami, is a vibrant art initiative that goes beyond the conventional concept of a library. Rooted in the celebration of women, it intertwines literature with community involvement to nurture diverse and inclusive connections. As an evolving and generative artwork, Sister Library is a space dedicated to celebrating female creativity—housing works by women writers, artists, and zine makers. It invites in-depth reflection on the visual and reading cultures of our time, bringing readers together to explore literary contributions, highlight artistic excellence, and foster a deeper appreciation for the accomplishments of women in the creative world.

The project will travel to multiple locations across Sri Lanka throughout the year, and be accompanied by a multifaceted programme featuring workshops, performances, talks, and readings. The Sister Library’s first stop will be the Lakmahal Community Library in Colombo, where the Sister Library will be accessible to the public during regular opening hours. 

Sister Library is being realized in partnership with Everystory Sri Lanka, an organisation committed to amplifying underrepresented voices through literature and storytelling.

As part of the collaboration, Everystory Sri Lanka has contributed important Sri Lankan writing to the library’s collection. Additionally, the Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française have expanded the selection by adding feminist literature from Germany and France, translated into English.

This way for full programme details. 

The project is funded by the Franco-German Cultural Fund. The Fund was set up in 2003 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty of friendship between France and West Germany and it promotes Franco-German cooperation by providing support for cultural and artistic projects.

About aqui Thami 
© aqui Thami aqui is a Thangmi woman of the Kiratimma first peoples of the Himalayas, she uses social exchanges and develops safe spaces to position art as a medium of healing in community. aqui's interdisciplinary practice ranges across ceremonial interventions, performances, drawings, zine-making, fly posting, and public intervention, brought together by participant involvement; most of her work is self-funded and realised in collaboration. sister library( @sister.library ) founded by aqui is an evolving art work that engages in the in-depth reflection on the visual and reading culture of our times. It is also the first traveling, community owned and community run feminist library of South Asia. aqui also collaboratively runs bombay underground, an artist collective that hosted south asia's first zine fest, bombay zine fest, and is central to the underground publishing scene, and dharavi art room, a space for children and women in dharavi to explore creatively.