About the ‘I am’ project
Was there a time when people in Sri Lanka didn’t describe themselves as Sinhalese or Tamil, Muslim or Burgher?
Or at least when these identities weren’t foremost in their minds?
Today, one’s ethnicity is likely to be paramount when Sri Lankans describe themselves. I began to observe how conflict and ethnicity were inextricably linked. I wanted to challenge perceptions of identity, to see identity differently, and explore how this could help being communities together. An anthropologist I spoke to told me that a long time ago Sri Lankans, or the Ceylonese as they were known then, were more likely to talk to you about their kith and kin connections, what they did for a living or their hometowns. So with this in mind, I set out on a journey, seeking a generation of Sri Lankans who were from such a time or perhaps still responded in this way.
I visited churches, kovils, temples and mosques and was welcomed into people’s homes and workplaces. I traveled by plane, by road and by boat. I met and photographed elders; many wise men and women who trusted me with their life stories. They shed light on my questions and I grew more convinced that reflecting on the shared experiences of elders is key to moving towards reconciliation in this conflict. The ‘I am’ project was born – a collection of portraits in photography and sound of the experience and insights of Sri Lankan elders. I hoped that people would engage with these portraits of community, identity, and coexistence, and move them towards reconciliation. I also wanted to encourage those I met on my journey to tell others about the project, and in turn, encourage them to tell their own stories.
The ‘I am’ project is trying to engage people with oral history and, through the wisdom of these wonderful elders, to challenge perceptions of identity and explore how this could help bring communities together. This was my journey of discovery and I hope that my own transformation through engaging with these stories will help others do the same.
Kannan Arunasalam
Concept, creation, curation
REVIEWS
“That Kannan is succeeding in this is evident. Aside from the many views on his website, his work will reach new audiences as part of the 8th Aljazeera International Documentary Festival 2012 and Film South Asia 2012. He was also part of the just concluded Colombo Art Biennale. Linking them all thematically is Kannan’s great obsession – an exploration of the shifting Sri Lankan identity. His own family’s circumstances and choices have made these stories deeply personal for Kannan, particularly the series titled ‘Longing and Belonging: Diaspora Shorts,’ available on the website Groundviews. But it is his ‘I Am’ series which absorbs him now. The first set introduced 36 narrators from Jaffna, Kandy and Galle and began with the filmmaker’s determination to explore the answers to this one question: was there a time when people in Sri Lanka didn’t describe themselves as Sinhalese or Tamil, Muslim or Burgher?” Telling their stories, Kannan Arunasalam speaks to Smriti Daniel about his endeavour to record narratives from a fast disappearing Sri Lanka, Smriti Daniel, The Sunday Times, February 26, 2012
“Among the photographers/filmmakers, Kannan Arunasalam’s I am stood out at Park Street Mews, for the arresting composition of images, fine sense of tonal and descriptive detail, evocative voice overs and choice of subjects for his short photo-biographical essays. We were deeply moved by his emerging portrait of this troubled country we sat uncomfortably at home in.” Becoming Biennale, Dr Pradeep Jeganathan and Dr Malathi De Alwis, February 26, 2012
“Kannan Arunsalam wants people to rethink the ideas on identity and talk about the concept in a more constructive way. He hopes people will be drawn to the project because it is talking about their home towns and ultimately see the bigger picture. “I am hoping that the message that was created in this project will help people to see something that goes a bit deeper into issues, through different eyes.” Kannan Arunasalam appreciates the connections he has made and he describes it as a lovely gesture that the nun Sister Pushpam Gnanapragasam from the project continues to write him letters. “I like the idea of keeping in touch with them, I think it is important. Sometimes people take a story that is really valuable and personal and then disappear. That is not right.” A journey beyond ethnic identity, Maya Bille and Nadine Wardell, Sunday Island, March 5, 2011
© 2010-2012 Kannan Arunasalam. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)
This multimedia project on Sri Lankan regional identity is AMAZING- http://iam.lk/about/
Interesting… I am a 3rd generation Sri Lankan. My grandfather went to Sri Lanka in the early 1900′s. My father was born and brought up in SRI LANKA and looks 100% SRI LANKAN, I mean Sinhalese. He married my mom who is Indian. We are originally from KERALA. When I was 10 years old, we moved to Bangalore, INDIA. But I feel more SRI LANKAN than ever !!! I am an artist and author. I am now writing a book about an American girl growing up in CEYLON in the 1940′s…the title is “A Million Lifetimes in SERENDIP”. Love to read the responses to your various interviews !!!
A very innovative and much needed project that you have created. I salute those who are involved with passion in this web creation. A very big thank you from this Sri Lankan for the initiative.
Sathasivam Sasetharan,
English Language Teaching Unit,
Eastern University,
Batticaloa,
Sri Lanka.
http://twitoaster.com/country-us/heyangelo/
Ambassador Butenis at US Embassy points to http://iam.lk/ Brilliant project a great example of telling stories online!
Wonderful project. Most innovative methodology. And what a beautiful presentation. Thank you for sharing this data and experience set.
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Dr. L. Lau
Earth Sciences and Geography
Keele University
I think of myself as a citizen of the world; so ethncity and nationality mean little or nothing to me. However, any attempt like this to break the ethnic barriers behind which most Sri Lankans live is something to be admired and encouraged.
A work of excellence. A masterpiece. Keep it up!
Very Nice! Good Job.
I have been waiting for something like this to arise. I commend you for taking the initiative to begin such a project. I have been on a journey trying to imagine a sense of community beyond the enclaves of ethnic polarization. Your project will help me to continue to think of community beyond imagined barriers.
I appreciate this work! I have to say that you are making a big leap in our society. Getting our old memories. I have to thank the creator of this website. More or less something you have to do when you belong to this society. http://iam.lk will be a great forward idea to see the world in a new way.
[...] [21] http://iam.lk/about/ [...]
[...] Kannan Arunasalam pieces together a common identity for the Sri Lankan; ‘I Am’ is the story of our country’s communal history, seen through, and as told by, the memories of an older, and presumably wiser, generation. http://iam.lk/about/ [...]
What a wonderful and beautiful project. A brilliant way to make storytelling of a common past, become a hopefully useful and important part of a future reconciliation process. Wish you can keep it growing. Wish it will get the impact and recognition that it so obviously deserves.
Thanks Michael for the encouraging words.
What do we see from the past? The Sri lankan identity. We must remove hatred, jealousy and suspicion and eat freely kavun and kokis, wade and thosai, wattalappan and breuder, like we did in the past. Then only we can progress as a Nation. Your work in that direction is praiseworthy. It will be remembered in the future.