Exploring social realities through temple drawings
View(s):Reginald S. Aloysius whose first solo exhibition will be held at the Hempel Galleries, 30/3, Barnes Place, Colombo 7, from March 19 to April 10 is
Reginald S. Aloysius
a British-born artist of Sri Lankan Tamil descent whose background has informed his work exploring themes of globalisation, emigration, and the destruction of tradition through development and modernisation. Through the exploration of the iconography of Sri Lankan and Southern Indian temples, Aloysius investigates the social agency inherent in any cultural choice.
Lines and scattered paths: Aloysius’ work
Detailed drawings of Indian Hindu temples coupled with a delicate use of paint create an alluring relationship between drawing and painting. Etched into the surface of the wooden support, Aloysius produces a series of precise lines, representing airline flight paths. Commercial flight paths are also migratory routes. The addition of scattered dried oil paint visually reference petals on temple floors and metaphorically the scattering of diasporas.
The ‘paintings’ are maps that pick out the routes of contemporary Tamil culture. They may also be seen as lines that threaten to turn the surety of national identity into the shifting, nomadic identity of transnational cultures.
Through the exploration of the iconography of Sri Lankan and Southern Indian temples, Aloysius attempts to investigate the social agency inherent to any cultural choice.
“The pieces oscillate between drawing and painting. Drawing is the moment, the present with reference to past histories and painting is the revisiting of the moment, together creating an anticipated future.”- Reginald Aloysius
See www.hempelgalleries.com