The mixed-media installation, You will never understand what we have gone through, is inspired by an extract from a letter written in Urdu by an Indian soldier, Jemadar Shamsher Ali Khan (Punjabi Muslim, 34) to his compatriot, Raja Rustam Ali Khan (Gujranwala District, Punjab). The letter dated 16^th January 1918, 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, “I am delighted to get your regular letters, but I am very sorry I cannot give you any detailed reply. The truth is that I am prevented from so doing as the war gets bigger and bigger, and longer and longer, and our work increases accordingly. […] You will never understand what we have gone through until I tell you all our troubles by word of mouth”.

You will never understand what we have gone through, 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.