Thenuwara returns with a message for the times, online
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Chandraguptha Thenuwara’s new exhibition of work ‘Atmosphere | At/most/fear’, is currently being shown online by the Saskia Fernando Gallery. One of Sri Lanka’s leading contemporary artists, Thenuwara has since 1997, held annual exhibitions from the 23rd of July to mark the July 1983 riots. His current exhibition will continue till August 13.
“My exhibition each year also focuses on contemporary political issues. Most of my works relate to ‘ísms’ which I introduced as Barrelism (1997-2006), Neo Barrelism (2007-2009), and Post-Barrelism (2009),” the artist explains. “While the ethnic war ended in 2009, I find it difficult to contend that the country had moved to a period of post-Barrelism since there are many unresolved issues stemming from the long years of protracted conflict that continue to manifest in day to day political, social and cultural practices.
“I introduced a Human Rights Arts Festival to Sri Lanka in 2017 and have organized two editions thus far to mark International Human Rights Day. Human rights violations have become an issue of day to day life in Sri Lanka since the 1971 youth insurrection, the ethnic conflict against the Tamils and the current ethno-nationalist violence against the Muslims.
“As a politically and socially conscious artist, I produce work to raise awareness on rights, justice, the rule of law, democracy, freedom of expression and the right to life. At times when the political regime is authoritarian my political activism is restricted. It is a kind of temporary self-censorship because of the unpredictability of the regime. However, the struggle to protect democracy and justice continues to be valid and must go on and is reflected in my practice and public exhibitions,” the artist says.
Thenuwara’s annual exhibitions have become a survey of the political history of the country since 1997. His works are included in the collections of the Queensland Art Gallery Australia, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Japan, John Moore’s University Art Collection Liverpool and Fine Arts Museum of Udmurtia, Izhevsk, Russia and were most recently selected for the permanent collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, USA.
See www.saskiafernandogallery.com or contact the Gallery at +94117429010 for more information.