Fulbright-National Geographic Award Portfolio

Bless This House – Auroville

This three-channel video of my kolam teacher, Grace Gitadelila, creating water-themed kolams outside her home in Auroville, India, offers a sensorial and meditative experience through fluid camera movements and lyrical pacing. Interwoven are scenes of my own kolam-making in New York City, illustrating how one can maintain focus and meditate even in a noisy, fast-paced city, compelling others to slow down and observe. I created kolams in front of locations that hold personal significance, where I hoped to see healing take place and blessings bestowed. These include a domestic violence awareness organization where I taught trauma-informed yoga, a mental health organization where I worked as a counselor, and a drug rehabilitation center where my friend received services.

Bless This House – Auroville challenges the notion of cultural appropriation and the insider versus outsider debate. Grace is a Caucasian woman of European descent who was raised in India since she was 9-months old. She speaks Tamil, the local language, and follows Indian customs. She is an expert on the kolam, having written various books on the topic and conducted numerous workshops worldwide. However, some people question her authority on the topic purely based on her race. Although she is practically a native and lives by the customs of the land she grew up in, she is still accused of cultural appropriation. I believe outsiders can offer a fresh perspective on traditions not their own, enriching them through comparison with their own cultural background, and sharing their significance with the world.

Year: 2024
Medium: Three-channel video
Duration: 6 minutes 1 second 
Credits: Director, cinematographer, editor, sound engineer, performer: Kelly Han. Performer: Grace Gitadelila

Bless This House – New York 2

This installation is comprised of a video projection on a screen made of layered saris. The video depicts my kolam-making in front of my apartment building while I contemplate the loss of my mother. Overlayed are images of city lights. The saris represent a long lineage of women who have practiced kolam-making for millennia, perhaps also relying on this art form to cope with life’s tragedies. This 78”x46.6” sculptural piece suspends from the ceiling.

Year: 2024
Medium: Single-channel video, fabric. Silent
Duration: 2 minutes 15 seconds
Credits: Director, cinematographer, editor, performer, fabric designer: Kelly Han. Second camera: Moon Choi. Seamstress: Madison Meadows

Bless This House – Bali

This two-channel video captures Balinese women creating and placing offerings, known as banten, around their homes for blessing and protection, highlighting their devotion and daily dedication.  Comprised of flowers, leaves, food, and other natural materials, the banten holds a special place in Balinese culture. Over time, they naturally disintegrate or are eaten by insects and animals, symbolizing the ephemeral nature of existence and the perpetual cycle of life.

Bantens are similar to kolams as both are forms of ephemeral art and cultural practices deeply rooted in matrilineal spirituality. Both traditions foster heightened focus and a profound sense of connection for the practitioner.

Presented in a poetic, observational documentary style with an experimental format, this video aligns with sensory ethnography films, striving to establish a palpable reality for the viewers. Just as watching 8 hours of Empire (1965) by Andy Warhol can generate punctum in the viewer, I favor extreme long takes over fast cuts, believing that prolonged observation fosters deeper comprehension and reveals the true essence of a subject.

Year: 2023
Medium: Two-channel video
Duration: 5 minutes 6 seconds
Credits: Director, cinematographer, editor, sound engineer: Kelly Han