From Partition to Southall
British Film Institute
Mixed-media exhibition displayed at the British Film Institute (BFI), Southbank
In this mixed-media exhibition, the protagonist is envisaged as an immigrant from the Punjab in the 1970s, dealing with the daily struggles of life. Set in Southall, an area where many immigrants have found sanctuary over the years, this exhibition contrasts the tension between the pressures of survival faced by the diasporic communities and their dreams for artistic freedom.
Drawing upon my own family’s experiences, the work sets out to explore the impact of immigration on personal identity of successive generations of the diaspora. A variety of media, including film, poetry, photography and visual art are used to create a powerful picture of this often ignored facet of life in the diaspora.
My Memory
film, video collage
running time: 10 minutes 32 seconds
Video collage depicting recent major events experienced by Singh. The horrific partition of Punjab, Singh's homeland, exiles him into an unknown voyage across the world. During the journey he holds on to his dreams of being an artist despite the many hurdles faced by the Punjabi diaspora throughout the 1970s.
Immigrant Landscapes
Photo series
Years of daily struggle has left Singh tired. His yearning to go back to the recollections of his days in pre-partition Punjab is now a distant memory. In this photo album we see Singh at a juncture in his journey where he is trying to feel at home in Southall, although he knows his relationship with his homeland can never be replaced. He still has hopes and dreams to return to a unified Punjab one day.
The Wall of the Displaced
Photo series
A collection of photographs featuring members of Southall's Puniabi population. These faces are just some of the 15 million people whose families were either displaced, killed or died during the partition of Punjab in 1947 This was the beginning of the process adopted by the newly-created Indian State to slowly extinguish the vibrant and unique culture that existed in the previously unified Punjab.
No Depth No Truth
short film
running time: 7 minutes 15 seconds
Singh has interspersed 1925 footage from a Punjabi village with footage from Punjabi communities exiled to Southall in the 1970s to illustrate how these new communities in Southall would be viewed by outsiders, and how much depth from day-to-day life they would miss.
Dispersed Payslips
found object: created using original payslip, from Punjabi immigrant (1975)
The payslips in this room depict the daily struggles of a Punjabi immigrant having to make ends meet. He still harbours artistic aspirations but they are stifled by the pressures of survival. Work in a VHS store, focusing on Bollywood film that is alien to him, leaves him frustrated but his love of film helps to anaesthetise the pain. He is constantly aware of a silent and pervasive attack on his way of life but is determined to keep hold of his Punjabi identity.