Your Films

Artwork by Museret Imran and Mousumi De

Just after the London bombings in 2005, a Coventry duo had the idea of creating an art for peace project, called As-Salaam. The initiative was conceived in hope of bridging relationships between British Muslim and British Non-Muslim communities.

Using art to help young people explore their beliefs and notions of peace, the project was also filmed to share these perceptions of Islam and promote it as a peaceful religion, among its young believers.

The participants included young British Muslim girls aged 8 to 15 years from a Youth club called Sisters United, based in Coventry. All participants including the administrative facilitator have roots in Pakistan, except one participant with roots in Syria. The film-maker, Mousumi De, is a Hindu, from India, and worked as the arts and media facilitator for the project.

Film-maker Mousumi De

Her main concern was to engage peace awareness with young people and to disseminate the idea of peace at personal and community levels.

The film, called Of Military Tanks and Barbie Dolls, reflects the project from practicalities to philosophies. Most importantly the film highlights the deeper sense of awareness and understanding of peace and conflict that arose while creating artworks.

The film also makes reflects the dynamics of the personalities involved, oscillating between their youthful sprits and the somber self-searching during the project.

For more information on the project, visit the As-salaam website linked on the right.