Portraying twisted social fictions
View(s):Born in 1971 in Colombo, Vajira Gunawardena is known for his bright coloured canvas works. His art is also of a deeply conceptual nature. Gunawardena completed his Bachelor in Fine Arts at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies in Sri Lanka and has held regular solo exhibitions locally over the past twelve years. He has participated in group shows in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and most recently in Cuba.
The current series of work that is being exhibited at Paradise Road Galleries, depicts Gunawardena’s ideology. Reality, which is considered as the work of fiction, diversifies him from his psyche and the objective world and each work of art which is presented throughout this series is just a mere crack of himself formed upon societal fractures.
Technique wise, Gunawardena uses both acrylic and oil on canvas. His use of a bright coloured palette manages to draw in the viewer, while his manner of depicting disfigured figurines and faces strongly solidifies the concept of twisted social fictions. He also presents stenciled work on his paintings to adds a further graffiti and street art effect.
Gunawardena’s exhibition, Real World Virtuality, is on from August 22– September 11 at Paradise Road Galleries in Alfred House Road, Colombo 3. For more information contact art@paradiseroad.lk