Hema Shironi, 2023, One Loan is Taken to Settle Another I

As an artist, Hema Shironi's practice is deeply rooted in the observance of the history of colonization, civil war, displacement, and migration, which she highlights through personal stories and lived experiences. Her latest exhibition 'Families 'Not' in the List' is currently on display at the Saskia Fernando Gallery in Colombo 7. In this exhibition, she combines embroidery mythological imagery, national symbols, bricolage and installation to introspect cultural identity. Her unique approach incorporates round materials, mismatched fabrics, and loose threads to document and enquire into the shifting socio-political landscape of the country.

Through her intricate stitching and embroidery on fabric, Shironi explores the circumstances of communities that have been historically overlooked, delving into how identity is shaped by these experiences. Her work focuses on the concept of home as both a sanctuary and an empty void, weaving a broader narrative that encapsulates her journey and extends to the collective experiences of communities.

Hema Shironi, 2024, A Family Photo of Her Husband and Children I

Her approach to memory is grounded in the experience of migration and displacement that defined her childhood. The practice of embroidery and stitching, passed down to the artist from the maternal figures of her family and forged in domesticity, is used with intricate precision and care to recount a melancholic personal and familial journey marked by conflict and loss. Shironi delves into her nuanced understanding and relationship with the notion of home, influenced by the uprootedness she has experienced and observed in the communities around her. This concept of home is visually represented through gridded structures that resemble the foundations of a house. She incorporates documentation, commentary, and recollection to create a compelling account that attempts to give voice to the most vulnerable and overlooked in society.

Hema Shironi's work is set to be showcased in the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Queensland, Australia in 2025. Her art has previously been featured in Critical Zones, conceived by ZKM, Centre for Art and Media Karlsruhe and Colomboscope, Sri Lanka. Her work 'They Netted Us' was included in the 13th Taipei Biennial: Small World held at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Shironi earned her BFA from the Ramanathan Fine Arts Academy at the University of Jaffna in 2014 and completed her MFA at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore in 2019. 

Families 'Not' In The List is currently on display until 5th September 2024 at Saskia Fernando Gallery, Colombo 7.