ABSTRACT
This chapter elucidates how contemporary artists of the Tamil diaspora in the U? use their art practice to investigate experiences of migration, flight and complex uncertain belongings. Contemporary Tamil artists are few and lack institutional support, in Sri Lanka as well as in the diaspora. Their focus on visual art that combines Euro-American and South Asian elements has been devalued by the Tamil nationalist movement that emphasizes artistic forms based on ancient literature and poetry, and by Sinhala nationalism that oppresses all Tamil expressions. The planning of the Tamil diaspora research was guided by aims for shared authority and collaboration, and the possibility to implement this approach through the inclusion of artistic methods and presentations. The successive focus on diaspora members committed to art practice in their everyday lives and work reinforced the sense of exchange. The contradictory elements in Tamil artists’ working and thinking processes demonstrate the complexity of diasporic existence where no place is completely solid or secure.
