The mixed-media artwork, The cold says, “how are you going to avoid me?”, is inspired by an extract from a letter written in Hindi by an Indian soldier, Bhagirathi (Rajput) to his compatriot, Jhandu Singh (39th CIH, Goona, Central India). The letter dated 20^th November 1916, was sent from France to India during the First World War. This letter along with other letters, is part of the book, ‘Indian Voices of the Great War: Soldiers’ Letters, 1914-18’ by David Omissi. An extract from the letter reads, “We are very comfortable apart from the cold, which is excessive and keeps saying ‘I will not leave you now’. My dear fellow, my liver is split when I think of this cold, and my life is drying up. The cold says ‘how are you going to avoid me?’ and I reply ‘by putting on four blankets and a coat’. Even then the cold is ever there. This is how we pass the time – our lives imprisoned in this far country”.

The cold says, “how are you going to avoid me?”, was developed during Baptist Coelho’s year-long Artist-in-Residence, supported by and at Fondation Fiminco, Romainville, 2021-22. The residency was also supported by Fonds de Dotation Buchet Ponsoye, Paris; Institut Français, India. The artwork was first exhibited as part of the artist’s solo exhibition, You will never understand what we have gone through at Galerie Saint-Séverin, Paris, from 8 December 2021 to 6 February 2022. The exhibition was curated by Odile Burluraux.