The mixed-media artwork, [The] cold was terrible… not being able to sleep on the ground in the open…, is inspired by an extract from a letter written in English by Supply and Transport Agent Behari Lal (Punjabi Hindu) to Babu Anandi Pershad (Agra, UP). The letter dated 28th November 1917, was possibly 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, “[The] cold was terrible, and it was raining hard; not being able to sleep on the ground in the open, I had to pass the whole night sitting on the outward lorry seats”.

[The] cold was terrible… not being able to sleep on the ground in the open…, 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.