En Route: Zimmers of Southall + Asian Women and Cars

Curated by Abiba Coulibaly, En Route pairs two short documentaries that explore the varied and overlooked importance of driving and car culture amongst British-South Asian communities.

The significance cars take on in a diasporic context as a means of self-expression, key to forming identity and community, is explored through archives and intergenerational interviews.

With a bass heavy-soundtrack accompanying VHS footage, Zimmers of Southall (2021) takes a look at the Southall Punjabi community’s affinity for both classic car culture and dub music. Asian Women and Cars: Road to Independence (2019) confronts the gendered nature of car-use, highlighting driving as a means for rebellion and autonomy amongst pioneering first-generation migrants.

With both films being part of wider photography series, their directors Hark1karan and Dawinder Bansal will be in conversation afterwards, discussing their respective arts practices which include projects such as Kisaan and Cinema Jambo respectively.

This event is programmed by Flatpack Guest Programmer Abiba Coulibaly.