Lucknow: Eight Sri Lankan students from the College of Arts, Lucknow University, are transforming their personal narratives and thoughts into powerful visual expressions at ‘Ashtpravah’, an art exhibition being organized at the Kala Srot Art Gallery in Aliganj.Reflecting on his work, MA student R Avinda Tishan Fernando said, “My paintings capture Sri Lanka’s social and political realities, portraying both tension and hope through rich textures and dynamic brushwork.”
A PhD scholar in sculpture, EM Mahesh Chathuranga Ekanayaka, explored resilience and personal healing through his artwork. Bachelor of visual arts (sculpture) student, HM Akalanka Herath Bandara, conveyed unspoken emotions and silent sentiments through layered digital compositions.MA student in creative painting, HKA Venura Dilshanka De Silva, examined the psychological interplay between desire and transformation.PhD scholar K Mathiskumar used national symbols in his canvases to explore themes of post-conflict unity and reconciliation, demonstrating how art can reflect collective healing and societal harmony.Advanced visual arts researchers, Vetharaniyam Gokularamanan and Jathiskumar, created works informed by cultural memory and lived experience, highlighting personal and collective histories intersect in contemporary Sri Lankan art.“Our artworks create a dialogue between individual experiences and shared cultural memory, reflecting how personal and collective histories intertwine in contemporary Sri Lankan art,” said Vetharaniyam Gokularamanan.
