Chandraguptha Thenuwara represented by Saskia Fernando Gallery

Chandraguptha Thenuwara presents his annual memorial exhibition 'Meta-Real', offering a distant contemplation of the socio-political developments of the nation since the 1980s. 'Meta-Real' opens today 23rd July 2024 and will run until 13th August 2024 at the Saskia Fernando Gallery, 41 Horton Place, Colombo 07. The exhibition which is held annually on the 23rd of July commemorates the events of 'Black July', a series of Anti-Tamil pogroms that took place in 1983. This exhibition probes the viewer to contemplate unaddressed issues that have persisted for four decades and the implications it could have for the democratic future of the country.

Each year Chandraguptha Thenuwara exhibits a new body of work that documents and comments on the sociopolitical climate of present-day Sri Lanka. This year the artist's memorial exhibition coincides with a tumultuous period in the nation's history, taking place in the months leading up to the presidential election. Recognising the importance of this moment, Thenuwara draws parallels between the 'political dementia' of today and the narratives that have emerged in the past during periods of political instability.

Chandraguptha Thenuwara is renowned for his multifaceted practice that explores the potent politics of memory and violence. Thenuwara's diverse oeuvre includes paintings, drawings, installations, sculptures, public monuments, lectures, and curatorial and collaborative projects. He is the Founder of the Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts (VAFA), an artist-run school nurturing the burgeoning Sri Lankan contemporary art scene. His work has been featured in notable exhibitions, including most recently, 'Pop South Asia: Artistic Explorations in the Popular at Sharjah Art Foundation (2022), 'Indra's Net' curated by Sandhini Poddar at Frieze London (2022), and "Notations on Time' curated by Sandhini Poddar and Sabih Ahmed at Ishara Art Foundation (2023).

Chandraguptha Thenuwara, 2024, This is Not a Still Life

In 'Meta-Real' Thenuwara reaches back in time to depict landscapes of destruction in the aftermath of the 1988-1989 'Beeshanaya', inviting contemplation into the trajectory of Sri Lankan history and drawing focus on the issues that continue to remain unresolved. The imagery of a cut-down tree, a blocked road, spread-out lifeless bodies and destroyed electricity wires exist within an atmosphere of stillness. Through an array of classical genres and mediums, including drawings, still-life paintings, figurative paintings and a sculptural object, Thenuwara offers perspective as well as commentary, encouraging the audience to reevaluate the narratives that govern our sociopolitical climate and be reminded of the weight of history

In parallel to his presentation at the Saskia Fernando Gallery, Thenuwara will curate 'Visual Persuasions at the Lionel Went Art Centre. The exhibition will focus on a range of contemporary issues from the perspective of a younger generation of contemporary artists. "Visual Persuasions' features artwork from eight Sri Lankan contemporary artists; Shanika Wijesinghe, Fatima Awrad, Kusal Gunasekara, Kopalapillai Mathiskumar, Susiman Nirmalavasan, Kirushanathan Inkaran, Rawindu Sandaruwan and Aruna Shantha Kulathunga.

Thenuwara will also be hosting 'Home/Land', a collaborative exhibition that forms part of an international partnership between researchers at the University of Exeter (HaSS Cornwall), the University of Leicester, the Museum of London Archaeology and the Arts Faculty at the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Curated by Professor T. Shanaathanan, the exhibition will be on display at JDA Perera Gallery in Colombo, allowing for a nuanced conversation parallel to 'Meta-Real' on the effects of violence across the island. 'Home/Land' explores themes of memory, home and loss and their insights into the impact of war, displacement and dispossession on the people and landscapes of the Jaffna peninsula of Sri Lanka. The exhibition will be on view at JDA Perera Gallery from the 23rd to the 31st of July.

Chandraguptha Thenuwara, 2024, Tyre, Metal