The walls of the Oakland Asian Cultural Center and ARTogether are buzzing with anticipation. Dalit Dreamlands, a landmark multimedia exhibition unlike any other, is about to unfold. Co-presented by AAWAA, ARTogether, Discostan, and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, this event is much more than just an art show as it is a celebration of creativity, a platform for marginalized voices, and a powerful call for a future freedom from caste oppression.

Dalit Dreamlands lies in the vision of curator Manu Kaur. Supported by AAWAA's Emerging Curator's Program, Kaur has brought together over 36 artists from a multitude of backgrounds – Dalit, Adivasi, Bahujan, Afro-Indian, Indo-Caribbean, and Muslim. This multiplicity is a core strength of the exhibition. It challenges the simplistic notion of a monolithic 'brown' experience and instead highlights the multitude of identities and artistic expressions within these communities.

The art itself encompasses a stunning array of mediums. Visitors will be treated to intricate Madhubani paintings by Malvika Raj, who reinterprets the traditional style with a pro-Dalit message while Nazrina Rodjan's large canvases weave together stories of indentured labour and the enduring resilience of women. There will also be fashion design, films, performances, and thought-provoking visuals — a true feast for the senses.

But Dalit Dreamlands is more than just aesthetics. It is a platform for those who have been historically silenced. Queer and trans artists, often doubly marginalized within their own communities, will find a space to express themselves freely. The exhibition centers the concept of 'caste-abolitionist futurisms' a powerful vision of a world where the oppressive caste system is dismantled and where a more just and equitable future is built.

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