Theertha artists hope Art Fair in India will change perception of Lankan art
Works of two Theertha artists that will be showcased at the India fair-Pala Pothupitiya (above) and Anoli Perera (below)
The Theertha International Artists Collective will be exhibiting their work at the India Art Fair in New Delhi from February 2-5. The annual Indian modern and contemporary art fair encompasses paintings, sculptures, photography, mixed media, prints, drawings and video art. Its art education series has guided walks conducted by curators and students of art history alongside a speakers’ forum with a panel of Indian and international experts in art.
The Theertha International Artists Collective will take part in Platform, a section introduced in 2016 to provide an opportunity for the best of the established and emerging South Asian galleries, artists and artist collectives to exhibit on an established international platform. This year’s Platform participants include the Britto Arts Trust (Dhaka, Bangladesh), the Nepal Art Council (Kathmandu, Nepal), the Theertha International Artists’ Collective (Colombo, Sri Lanka) and Blueprint 12 (New Delhi, India).
The collective is represented by Bandu Manamperi, Pradeep Chandrasiri, Anoli Perera, Jagath Weerasinghe, Pala Pothupitiye, G. R. Constantine, K. Pushpakumara, Anura Krishantha and Thisath Thoradeniya.
Theertha International Artists Collective director Lalith Manage explained that financial gain is not the sole aim of the Collective when exhibiting at the fair. “We’re trying to see if we can influence the market rather than trying to cater our art to the market,” he explained.
Launched in 2000, the aim of the Collective is to facilitate the local community of artists in innovation, experimentation, exchange and dialogue within Sri Lanka.Having experienced violence and brutality in a political and social context in Sri Lanka during the war and the time of JVP violence, they focus on socio-political issues such as gender, the ethnic conflict, political and Western influence.
“The present trend of art globally doesn’t please aesthetics, it questions existence and looks beyond beauty,” explains Lalith, adding that the Collective focuses more on ideas than on beauty. “The concept is very important. If I can’t draw but I have an idea, then I can give my idea to someone else and ask them to do it,” explains Pushpa one of the artists who will be exhibiting in India . “This is a good opportunity for other artists because then even they can join,” adds Pradeep.
“The Jaipur Literary Festival and Galle Literary Festival are almost the same in terms of standard. We should also develop a standard like the Indian Art Fair,” said another artist Constantine, mentioning also that discussions of art etc. are an important part of any art fair.
The artistst hope that they can use their ideas and experiences to promote a change in the perception of art in Sri Lanka.