Sunday Times 2
Executive Demon and Other Works: Thenuwara’s exhibition from Tuesday
View(s):Executive Demon and Other Works -Chandraguptha Thenuwara’s exhibition at the Saskia Fernando Gallery opening on Tuesday will feature his political commentary on the Executive Presidency in Sri Lanka in the form of a sculptural installation.
“While the talk of the abolition of power continues there is no change. Getting rid of this demon becomes paramount to change,” the artist states. In his characteristic style the multiple meaning of Executive he takes to relate to abuse and misuse of power and the repression of the needs of the Sri Lankan people.
One of the exhibits from his 1997 Barrelscape collection
In the main installation the Executive Demon lies fallen on the ground. The six-armed monster holds in each hand a symbol. The lion tail representing Nationalism, the figures of copulation representing sex and gambling industries, the lotus representing the national flower and a symbol of Buddhist purity, the Goddess of Law, Themis, in a crushed state representing the current state of law and order, the Mace as a symbol of parliament and the pistol and knife combined representing organized crime. The sculpture is placed on the ground intentionally, to further emphasize the absence of someone to venerate it and the abundance of the symbols in each hand.
Also featured are some of his studies alongside the continuation of his 2017 and 2018 series ‘Glitch’ to carry forward the notion of the lack of proper governance and non-functionality. In addition the exhibition will feature a separate collection of his older works to commemorate Barrelism, a concept established 20 years ago. The works will include early works from the Barrelism series, the first ever Camouflage work, Erasing Camouflage series and Thousand Barrels series.
Chandraguptha Thenuwara holds a Master in Philosophy from the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Kelaniya , Sri Lanka as well as a Master of Fine Arts with Honours from the Moscow State Art Institute. The exhibition will be open daily at Saskia Fernando Gallery, 41 Horton Place, Colombo 7 until August 14. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.