Scully Scholarship Show, 2017 • illustration • risograph printing
The project was purely an exploration to come to terms with the intersections where my Sri Lankan heritage and first generation American identity meet. The pieces deal with concepts of duality and duplicity, entertaining the idea of a double identity or dueling personalities. The South Asian identity in America is an underrepresented and stereotyped culture. I have only recently come to terms with my unique identity and found the creation of these pieces to be more of a self-reflective process where I realize the parallels between my perspective and my ancestors.
— with a South Asian twist— on the saying and hashtag #sorrynotsorry, which typically is defined as a lack of regret towards one’s (often shameless) behavior. To be “saree not saree” is to be unapologetic of my Sinhalese American identity and own it with confidence and pride. As an act of empowerment as both a minority and a woman, I created my own narrative with South Asian women as the protagonist and focal point. I challenge the audience to reconsider what is the “normal” narrative is and reassess what is the American identity.
All pieces were Risograph printed on 100C Whitewash French Paper. The Risograph technique allows for a really richly pigmented and texturized finish that cannot be achieved with a LaserJet printer. The physicality of the process allows for nuanced variation in ink distribution as well as happy accidents such as offset color registration.
The postcard for the Scully Scholarship Show