HERBAL GARDEN PRIYANTHA UDAGEDARA

Transcription

1 HERBAL GARDEN PRIYANTHA UDAGEDARA

2

3 HERBAL GARDEN PRIYANTHA UDAGEDARA Destination Sri Lanka: Herbal Garden as a Smoke Screen Herbs are an essential feature of people s lives in romance, religion, health and superstition. Grown in gardens for millenniums, herbs were often used for medical and erotic purposes in massage. Today the exotic flora and medicinal herbs found on hoardings, name boards, and other advertising material across the Sri Lankan landscape signifies of an industry growing rapidly; a commercial erotic massage industry. In Sri Lanka prostitution is illegal;in response to this Priyantha Udagedara creates flora as a ruse to disguise the real activities behind closed doors with his new series titled The Herbal Garden. The pauses, acts and the motions of the human figures juxtaposed with flora and fauna in Udagedara s work are of a recreational, or rather sexual nature. They resemble the massage parlors found in every corner of the island. The viewer of this series of tapestry-like garden paintings is offered deceptive beauty before he or she is exposed to darker realities. Symbolic illustrations continue to play a key role in Udagedara s work. Wasps, bees, insects, exotic birds can be found in his paintings. The appearance of a new form, the hybrid serpent, is symbolic of the presence of this animal in mythology, often presented in a light of fear and loathing. Alongside this the series titled A Rooted Industry depicts roots spreading our of the feet of a female figure, while their entire figure is not exposed. Priyantha Udagedara s earlier work exemplifies terror and beauty combined while The Herbal Garden becomes an extension of this theme in a post war context. He expresses the subject of the exploitation of the female body in an industry projected locally as both exotic and of a healing nature. - Anomaa Rajakaruna -

4 An Hour in the Herbal Garden, 2015, Mixed Media on Canvas, 100 x cm

5 Inside the Garden of Earthly Delights I, 2015, Mixed Media on Canvas, 148 x 117cm

6 An Hour in the Herbal Garden II, 2015, Mixed Media on Canvas, 147 x cm

7 Vanamali with Four Hands, 2015, Mixed Media on Canvas, 160 x cm

8 Inside the Garden of Earthly Delights, 2015, Mixed Media on Canvas, 147 x cm

9 Untitled, 2015, Mixed Media on Canvas, 75 x 75cm

10 An Hour in Herbal Garden I, 2015, Mixed Media on Canvas, 100 x cm

11 Vanamali I, 2015, Mixed Media on Canvas, 75 x 75 cm

12 On Your Way Home I, 2015, Mixed Media on Canvas, 99 x 80 cm

13 On Your Way Home II, 2015, Mixed Media on Canvas, 99 x 80 cm

14 On Your Way Home III, 2015, Mixed Media on Canvas, 99 x 80 cm

15 Untitled I, 2015, Watercolor and Collage on Board, 30.5 x 43 cm

16 Untitled II, 2015, Watercolor and Collage on Board, 30.5 x 43 cm

17 Untitled III, 2015, Watercolor and Collage on Board, 30.5 x 43 cm

18 Untitled IV, 2015, Watercolor and Collage on Board, 30.5 x 43 cm

19 PRIYANTHA UDAGEDARA b.1975 Education 2008 PhD Research Candidate (from 2008) at the Faculty of Art and Society, Leeds Metropolitan University 2007 Masters of Art, Contemporary Fine Art Practice (Merit) Leeds Metropolitan University, United Kingdom 2003 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Institute of Aesthetic Studies University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka Solo Exhibitions 2014 Priyantha Udagedara, Saskia Fernando Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka 2014 Paradise Lost, Norman Rea Gallery, York, UK 2012 Paradise Lost, Broadcasting Place Gallery, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK 2010 Paradise Road Galleries, Colombo, Sri Lanka 2007 M.A. Show, 6th floor H Building, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK 2006 Paradise Road Galleries Colombo Sri Lanka 2004 Barefoot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka 2003 Paradise Road Galleries, Colombo, Sri Lanka Group Exhibitions 2014 Emergency, Breese Little Gallery, London, UK 2009 Leeds Art Fair, The Light, United Kingdom 2007 Situation Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom 2007 Interim Leeds Metropolitan M A exhibition, old BBC building, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK 2005 An exhibition of Sri Lankan & Australian artists,the Cross Art Project, Sydney, Australia 2004 International Artist Camp, Habarana, Sri Lanka, Organized by George Keyt foun dation 2003 Gangcey of Sri Lanka, Lalith Kala Academy Gallery, New Delhi, India 2004 Gap Zero 3, The Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka 2004 Young Contemporaries, George Keyt Foundation, Harold Pieris Gallery, Colom bo, Sri Lanka 2002 Young Contemporaries, George Keyt Foundation, At the National Art Gallery Colombo, Sri Lanka 2002 National Painting & Sculpture Exhibition, Sri Lanka Kala Mandalaya, National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka Scholarships 2006 President Scholarship, Awarded by the Presidents Fund Sri Lanka 2004 D.B. Danapala Scholarship, Awarded by Institute of Aesthetic Studied, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

20

21

22 41 Horton Place, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka T