Artists

Tamil artist, Anushiya Sundaralingam, exhibits poignant installation about global displacement at Ulster Museum

10th October, 2024

Artist, Anushiya Sundaralingam presents, Tappi Odu (Flee), a new and evocative installation on display at the Ulster Museum, supported by The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The installation, which is now available to view until 15th December, explores the collective experiences of Tamil communities and diaspora populations and features images of footprints from countries across the globe.

The artist is pictured standing next to her installation which is a large box with linens and threads hanging with foot prints all over.
Pictured with artist, Anushiya Sundaralingam (front), are (L-R), Kim Mawhinney, Senior Curator of Art, National Museums NI, Jane Morrow, Curator/Mentor, and Joanna Johnston, Visual Arts & Collections Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

The renowned artist’s work examines the intricate connections between nature, culture, conflict, and identity and the Tappi Odu (Flee) installation highlights Anushiya’s journey of displacement and migration, drawing from her own experiences of relocating from Sri Lanka to England and eventually settling in Northern Ireland.

Watch the video below.

Artist, Anushiya Sundaralingam, said, “I am delighted to share this new installation with visitors to the Ulster Museum and hope that it generates empathy and gets people thinking about the difficult circumstances communities fleeing countries have to go through. The Arts Council National Lottery funding has been invaluable in enabling me to take the necessary time out to focus on working in the studio and also work with the Ulster Museum to bring this installation for public display. The project has been somewhat cathartic, allowing me to opportunity to reconnect with my lost Sri Lankin identity and culture after three decades of displacement.”

Tappi Odu (Flee) reflects on the collective experiences of the Tamil diaspora and the universal human condition of displacement. With nearly three million Sri Lankans living abroad, Anushiya’s work honours those forced to leave their homeland, capturing their stories through images of footprints collected from Tamil communities across the globe. These footprints, representing both literal and metaphorical movement, explore the emotional weight of leaving one’s home and the ongoing search for a place of belonging.

Joanna Johnston, Visual Arts & Collections Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added,

“The Arts Council was delighted to support Anushiya Sundaralingam and this project through our Support for the Individual Artist (SIAP) programme. The programme is funded by The National Lottery and has been a game-changer in enabling talented individual artists like Anushiya to take that all important next step in their artistic journey. Anushiya’s installation at the Ulster Museum is poignant, powerful and emotive, and very relevant for the times we are living in. I would encourage everyone to go along to experience it.”

Anna Liesching, Curator of Art, National Museums NI said: "We are delighted to showcase this powerful installation at Ulster Museum. Anushiya’s personal story of migration and displacement adds an important voice to the ongoing conversation around identity. Through meaningful partnerships like this, we can bring compelling stories to life and make them accessible to our visitors, allowing them to connect and resonate with both our collection and the museum itself."

Anushiya's art is profoundly influenced by the natural and cultural landscapes that shape her sense of self and belonging. "When my surroundings change, through displacement—whether by choice or not—I respond and adapt," says the artist, whose work reflects her personal experiences growing up in Sri Lanka amidst conflict and her subsequent transitions to England and Northern Ireland. This continuous process of adaptation and identity formation is a key element in Tappi Odu (Flee) and resonates through the installation.

Jane Morrow is a visual art curator, writer, researcher and advocate with a specialism in artist development. Jane supported Anushiya throughout the project in a mentorship role. Speaking about the artist and the new work Jane said,

“It has been a pleasure to support Anushiya to bring this important new body of work to the Ulster Museum. It is a timely, heartfelt and beautiful reflection on conflict and global displacement. Featuring contributions from many hundreds of people from diaspora communities, the work has multiple and meaningful resonances with the Museum’s work and its diverse audiences.”

Tappi Odu (Flee) is now available to view until December 2024 in the Ulster Museum’s Window on Our World gallery on the ground floor.

On Wednesday 30th October members of the public can join artist Anushiya Sundaralingam at the Ulster Museum for a performance and workshop based on the Tappi Odu (Flee) art installation. The event will feature a live performance by Anushiya in the first hour, followed by a unique community participation workshop where visitors will have the opportunity to leave their own footprints as part of the ongoing narrative of migration and identity.

Anushiya’s performance, distinct from the footprint workshop, will be an exploration of the bodily connection to place and memory, emphasizing the theme of human movement and its impact on identity. This event is drop-in, first come first served and is suitable for ages 14+. To find out more visit https://www.ulstermuseum.org/w...

To find out more about Arts Council NI funding opportunities visit www.artscouncil-ni.org