Prageeth’s Eyes Only at Saskia Fernando Gallery
View(s):Gayan Prageeth’s latest exhibition ‘Eyes Only,’ highlights the grip of corruption on politics in post-war Sri Lanka. Prageeth sets his images of destruction against surrealist dreamscapes that lend an eerie disquiet through their contrast of beauty and violence. His use of distinct geometric forms speaks to the factional, divided nature of Sri Lankan politics and his intricate illustrations of faces – though a product of the artist’s imagination – give an identity and presence to those who have disappeared as a result. Prageeth forces viewers to confront these realities, inviting them in with his delicate illustrations and then challenging them with their underlying debate on ethnic conflict, intolerance and nationalism.
‘Eyes Only’ features work layered in history, religious symbolism, and current affairs but Prageeth cleverly bars viewers from immediately seeing that in order to mimic the lack of transparency that is propagated by corruption.
Born in 1980 in Horana, Sri Lanka, he obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo, and quickly gained attention through his solo exhibition at Paradise Road Galleries in 2010 titled ‘Paradox.’ ‘Eyes Only’ is his sixth solo exhibition.
‘Eyes Only’ is on from February 3 to March 3 at the Saskia Fernando Gallery, No. 41, Horton Place, Colombo 7. Open 10a.m. to 6p.m.