From 29 May to 28 June 2014, Breese Little in London is housing two exhibitions by Sri Lankan contemporary artists. Jagath Weerasinghe’s “Decorated” will occupy the main gallery, while “Emergency”, featuring four artists, will take up the gallery’s first floor.
Jagath Weerasinghe, ‘Veiled Woman II’, 2013, acrylic on paper, 24 x 24 cm. Image courtesy BREESE LITTLE.
Since 2009, Breese Little has collaborated with Saskia Fernando Gallery, Colombo, with both galleries having hosted exhibits of contemporary Sri Lankan art. The effort widens the exposure of Sri Lankan artists, who have especially gained attention abroad after the end of the civil war in 2009.
The exhibition “Emergency” features works by Sujeewa Kumari, Nadia Haji Omar, Prageeth Manohansa and Priyantha Udagedara. Breese Little is also hosting a dialogue with the solo artist of “Decorated”, Jagath Weerasinghe, on 12 June 2014.
Installation view of “Decorated”. Image courtesy BREESE LITTLE.
Jagath Weerasinghe, ‘Untitled XVII’, 2014, mixed media on canvas, 150 x 150 cm. Image courtesy BREESE LITTLE.
Double features and double entendres
The double feature at Breese Little showcases a mix of paintings, sculptures, and video work from renowned and mid-career Sri Lankan artists. The works come together to explore Sri Lanka’s identity as influenced by the aftermath of the civil war. Moreover, “Decorated” and “Emergency” allow for a comprehensive understanding of Sri Lanka’s thriving art community.
Jagath Weerasinghe has been instrumental in bringing Sri Lankan contemporary art to a greater audience. Aside from co-founding Theerta International Artists Collective, a non-profit aimed to cultivate emerging talent, Weerasinghe is also responsible for the “90s Trend”. The “90s Trend” is “a socially critical and socially involving approach to art,” as Weerasinghe describes on Theertha’s website.
Jagath Weerasinghe, ‘Untitled XVI’, 2014, mixed media on canvas, 150 x150 cm. Image courtesy BREESE LITTLE.
Weerasinghe’s aptly titled exhibition “Decorated” is a double entendre, referring to both Sri Lanka’s armed forces as well as the physical transformation of Sri Lanka’s cities. In his interview with Saskia Fernando Gallery, Weerasinghe elaborates on the dilemma of choosing which side to believe:
In one paper, it’s all about human rights violations, in another you see a better world. You walk in the city that is totally transformed; no barricades, it’s green, so what is the real reality (if there is anything as such)?
Jagath Weerasinghe, ‘Untitled XV’, 2014, mixed media on canvas, 150 x 150 cm. Image courtesy BREESE LITTLE.
Faceless portraits
Among Weerasinghe’s inspirations for his works in “Decorated” was Giovanni Bellini’s portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan. Weerasinghe found similarities in the unconventional practices of Doge Leonardo Loredan and Sri Lanka’s ruling party. Weerasinghe’s more colourful renditions are devoid of the sitter.
Jagath Weerasinghe, ‘Golden Violence’, 2008, acrylic on paper, 29 x 27 cm. Image courtesy BREESE LITTLE.
Politics in art
Political undertones are also present in the artists’ works. On display is Weerasinghe’s Golden Violence from 2008, painted at the time when Sri Lanka was on the cusp of ending the civil war – but not without casualties.
The artists featured in “Emergency” also delve into Sri Lanka’s political issues.
Priyantha Udagedara, ‘Super Hybrid’, 2013, watercolour on paper, 64 x 50 cm. Image courtesy BREESE LITTLE.
Priyantha Udagedara was born and raised in Sri Lanka. He has also laced his paintings with political undertones that explore “the concept of beauty and agony in the island,” as described by Breese Little. Among his works in “Emergency” is Super Hybrid, which features an explosion of watercolours that is both delicate and menacing.
Prageeth Manohansa, ‘Profile’, 2013, scrap metal, 50 x 23 x 10 cm. Image courtesy BREESE LITTLE.
A rich variety of media
Other than paintings, the exhibits also feature artworks spanning various media. Prageeth Manohansa, one of the artists in “Emergency”, is known for working with scrap materials that make for sustainable pieces. Manohansa’s work has been appreciated both locally and internationally. A testament to this recognition in his homeland is a 16-foot-high sculpture at Sri Lanka’s newest airport, Mattala International Airport.
Manohansa’s Profile and Squirrel are among the works featured in “Emergency”.
Prageeth Manohansa, ‘Squirrel’, 2013, scrap metal, 30 x 18 x 10 cm. Image courtesy BREESE LITTLE.
Sujeewa Kumari, ‘Finger Dance’, 2003, video installation, 32m:21s. Image courtesy BREESE LITTLE.
Showcased in “Emergency” is one of Sujeewa Kumari’s earlier works, the 32-minute video installation Finger Dance. As stated in her profile on Saskia Fernando Gallery’s website, Kumari “feels that, at this moment, Sri Lankans are in a stage of self-discovery.” Kumari’s art continues to explore Sri Lankan identity as shaped by history.
“Emergency” also features work by Australian-born, New York-based Nadia Haji Omar, who is currently completing her MFA and whose work has been exhibited internationally.
Kristy Texon
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Related Topics: Sri Lankan artists, promoting art, mixed media, metal, video, picture feasts, political art, events in London
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