Gods of Metal
Sri Lankan sculptor Prageeth Manohansa’s exhibition, ‘Gods of Metal’, presented by the Saskia Fernando Gallery Colombo with Galerie Steph of Singapore opened in Singapore on the 9th and will continue until December 29.
Prageeth Manohansa belongs to a new wave of artists that have emerged from post-war Sri Lanka. This movement follows two specific periods in Sri Lankan art history, namely that of the 43 Group and the 90s movement. The former introduced modern contemporary art to the island, with heavy influences from Western art. The 90s movement changed the face of contemporary art entirely, drawing inspiration from the country’s conflict and the social and cultural tension that ensued.
Prageeth Manohansa is most celebrated for his unique metal sculpture but this exhibition will also include his charcoal works on paper. Prageeth’s life-sized sculptures are made primarily out of recycled scrap metal. His technique of using metal objects to create art has taken years of thought and planning. His works on paper in the exhibition are much more restrained, yet captivating images that express sculptural movement and emotion.
Following Prageeth’s studies in India, he returned to Sri Lanka to study under many of the artists from the 90s movement. His education in art had in fact begun at home many years earlier, under the guidance of his father and it was at his years in university that he began to put theory into practice. Prageeth began exhibiting his work shortly after graduating from university.
Galerie Steph is located in Tanjong Pagar Distripark and was founded by Singapore native Stephanie Tham in July 2007 to showcase both European Modern Art masters and contemporary Asian artists. Since its founding, Galerie Steph has presented numerous exhibitions featuring Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Fernando Botero, MithuSen, Nobuyoshi Araki and others.
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