Exhibition: “Shadows of the Past” – by Tharmapalan Tilaxan

An photograph of war torn residence from Palaly, Jaffna currently in diplace at the exhibition. Pix: Tharmapalan Tilaxan

Internationally acclaimed documentary photographer Tharmapalan Tilaxan unveils his long-term photography project, “Shadows of the Past,” a deeply personal and historical exhibition that reflects on the silent aftermath of Sri Lanka’s civil war. The exhibition opened on October 8 at Kalam – A Space for Cultural Encounters, located at No. 50, Kandy Road, Jaffna.

The exhibition will be on view from October 8 to 17, daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and will continue with a special evening display from October 12 to 17, open to the public from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Developed over eight years of continuous documentary work, “Shadows of the Past” explores how time, memory, and history coexist in spaces once marked by war. Through his camera, Tilaxan captures the traces left behind — bullet-marked walls, abandoned homes, and landscapes that still carry the emotions of those who once lived there. Each photograph reveals how silence and resilience intertwine in communities that continue to rebuild their lives amidst visible and invisible scars.

“History doesn’t end with peace,” says Tilaxan. “It lingers quietly — in people’s hearts, in their homes, and in the land itself. My work is an attempt to listen to that silence.”

Rather than documenting conflict in its immediacy, “Shadows of the Past” focuses on the present-day echoes of that history — moments where memory and everyday life intersect. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on how the remnants of war evolve into symbols of endurance and identity.

Through this profound visual narrative, Tharmapalan Tilaxan once again demonstrates his ability to use photography as a bridge between memory and reality, making the unseen stories of Sri Lanka’s post-war landscape visible to all.