Reconstruction Of Self (i)
‘Reconstruction Of Self (i)’ is an intensely personal journey through family, power, colonialism and identity.
Each panel within this series contains four elements. A photographic triptych (colour or black and white) which is paired with documents from my family archive. The depictions of family, juxtaposed through time presented with family archival ephemera, presents an idea of representation and exposes the intricate social and human design which has resulted in my own existence.
This work proposes that self, which can feel abstract and arbitrary are rooted in social process and location and we as a whole are made up of all these narratives.
This is a current work in progress. Final project will consist of 20 pieces, 12" x 9".
Reconstruction Of Self (i) - 'Patriarchs'
Patriarchs' contains a fragile paper background that is an extract from my own Indonesian (Buginese) family book which is over 150 years old. The languages seen are Lontara, Buginese and Arabic.
The top left image is of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India with my grandfather, Satijiban Das (in black trousers) walking just behind him. They have arrived in Gauhati, Assam (late 1940s) shortly after the partition of India. Far right is Firoze Gandhi who would later marry Indira Gandhi.
The bottom left image is of my uncle Amran Hassan and his wife during their traditional Bugis wedding.
The image on the right is Gustaf Olof (Gösta) Broms at his home in East Grinstead, UK approximately 1918. My uncle Alistair Broms sits on his shoulders whilst my grandmother Rosemary Broms Das sits on his brothers (Uncle Robert) shoulders.
'Reconstruction Of Self (i) - Ceremony'
'Ceremony' contains a paper background that is an extract from my Indonesian (Buginese) family book which is over 150 years old. The languages are Lontara, Buginese and Arabic.
The left image is of my great-grandfather (back row second left) and various unidentifiable friends and family.
The top right image is of Gustaf Olof (Gösta) Broms, my Swedish/English great grandfather. He wears full Swedish regalia.
The bottom right image is of my uncle Kartick Das (far right) taking part in National Cadet corp.
'Reconstruction Of Self (i) - Subjects'
'Subjects' is a collage featuring the old passports of my grandfather Satijiban Das who was born under British rule and received a Brtish Empire passport. The image to the left is my grandfather's passport photo.
The top image is my grandmother Rosemary Das. The two would later meet in London and marry. The bottom image is her father and my great grand father Gustaf Olof Broms who served as the Swedish attache to the UK.
'Reconstruction Of Self (i) - Matriarchs 1'
'Matriarchs 1' features, top left, my great-great grand mother Annie Sarah Ware. Her grand daughter and my grandmother, Rosemary Das features in the bottom left image taken at a ladies event in Assam, India. The full colour image on the right is my aunty Wildana Hassan getting married in full Bugis dress. The background is an aerogram sent from my great grandmother Violet Broms to my grandmother in 1967.
'Reconstruction Of Self (i) - Education'
'Education' contains a paper background that is an extract from my Indonesian (Buginese) family book. This extract is purely in Arabic and focuses on our family genealogy.
The top left image is my grandmother, middle row, second from the right and her class friends at Battle Abbey School in East Sussex, UK.
Bottom image is from the community around my grand father in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The image on the right is my my grandmother flanked by my uncle Kartick and my mother Joya Das.