Weathering Waves
A solo show by Priyantha Udagedara
Priyantha Udagedara’s philosophy of painting is a combination of
terror and beauty. His works are speculative, thought-provoking, beautiful, and
political as much as they are nostalgic. As a senior contemporary artist from
Sri Lanka, Priyantha has honed his craft over more than two decades. His skill
and precision will become more apparent as you feel drawn to each large canvas
and the precise details of his subjects. The forces of nature are ever-present.
With a unique and nostalgic perspective about Sri Lanka and its beauty,
Priyantha turns to The Ramayana as a source of inspiration in
the works displayed in this exhibition. It is a journey that amalgamates the
mythical, the spiritual, the natural, the romantic, and the existential. It is
a reminder of the haunting presence and relevance of the epic even in 2024.
Each piece is constructed using a craft of collaging Priyantha has honed for
over a decade, using newspaper and magazine cuttings and research about flora
and fauna that are endemic to Sri Lanka and its immediate environment. As you
experience the exhibition, we hope that you engage with Priyantha’s philosophy
of the coexistence of beauty and terror from your own
perspective.
Text by Pramodha Weerasekera
