Taprobane Collection

Anoli Perera (1962)

“Materials, along with their historicity and metaphors, metamorphose into Sri Lanka-based artist AnoliPerera’s exquisite works. Perera has been combining the materials surrounding her, with the situations and experiences in the social context she lives in.” – PayalKhandelwal, Colour Quotient

 

An artist who is largely self-taught, Anoli Perera comes from an academic background of political science and international relations, later exploring themes related to such areas through art. She is trained in stone carving from Artworks: The Visual Art School of Princeton for Continuing Education, New Jersey, USA, and has worked extensively for more than 25 years in the art industry in Sri Lanka, as well as abroad in countries including India, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan and the United States. Perera is one of the co-founders of the Theertha Artists’ Collective, which is a progressive art initiative that provides a platform for contemporary artists via the Theertha Red Dot Gallery. She currently divides her time between her home in Rajagiriya, Colombo and Delhi. Anoli has been instrumental in reviving the contemporary art scene in Sri Lanka through her mentoring, academic engagement as well as frequent workshops focusing on practice-based work and international collaborations giving local artists exposure at an international level. 

This work ideologically fuse with aspects of history, domesticity, body, memory, identity, myth, colonial and postcolonial anxieties, informed especially by feminist thought. Her latest pieces “Possibilities for a Non-Alienated Life” and “I Let My Hair Loose: Protest” created for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale encapsulate female subjectivity and remembrance between increasingly disconnected communities due to the phenomena of mass migration. Referring to “Possibilities for a Non-Alienated Life” Perera stated, “negotiating connectivity, proximity and access becomes painful conversations and self-preservation becomes primal. Love suffers. We, who are born in this ‘connected but disconnected’ age, have become the victims of this cruel dichotomy.” The lack of real and tactile intimacy between people in the world of new technology, urbanization and mass migration is what Anoli highlights through this piece, which was inspired by the distant and emotionally painstaking long-distance relationship she, as an artist who constantly travels, has to share with her mother. 

Perera’s solo exhibition The City, Janus-Faced held in 2018 at the Shrine Empire Gallery in New Delhi, India was based on the symbolism of Janus, a Roman God who is a two-faced guardian of doorways. Janus, for Perera signifies “inflow and outflow, the past and the present, becoming and unbecoming”, the binary of human life in the megapolis, which is characterised by influxes of urban development, advanced technology and mass migration. The exhibition consisted of a number of paintings and installations created using a variety of mediums such as acrylic, charcoal, fabric, ink, watercolour, printed images and wax, focusing on the hyper-urban existence of contemporary society. Perera’s works from the collection attempt to recreate as well as deconstruct the manner in which lives have become fast-paced, disconnected, mechanical and of constant level of unfathomable movement. Adwait Singh described the exhibition as one that was cutting-edge and revelatory about urbanity and the

urban existence of humans: “with figures dangling in mid-air or dwarfed by skyscrapers, the surreal cityscapes bring to mind rapidly shifting cartographies and the vertical development of cities, often executed at the cost of rampant disenfranchisement and misery at the grassroots level. Both the flat and sculptural works paint the metropolis as a palimpsest of different and sometimes antagonistic visions of utopia, urban planning, economic and political interests.”

Perera’s specialization is in painting, sculpture and installation art created using her signature technique and mode of expression, which she refers to as “bricolage”; she incorporates day-to-day raw materials including textile, objects, written texts and painted surfaces to create a final piece of art that engages with the socio-cultural contexts that surround her in the everyday. She highlights that working with textile allows her to deconstruct the socio-cultural and political elements she wants to represent through her work, as textile materials have “a tendency to get ethnic, class and gender indexed, while they also hold many histories in their folds.” This characteristic of the medium contributes to the artistic statements that the artsistattempts to make, as the different histories and memories encapsulated by the textiles emerge during her creative process. The installation “Long Walk” developed for the exhibition The City, Janus-Faced exemplifies this aspect of bricolage in Perera’s work as she collates an artistic piece using fabric, cotton stuffing, PVC pipes, magnifying lenses and printed images. The intricate details of the final bricolage speak volumes about the rapidity and intensity of the inflow and outflow patterns in metropolitan areas, with hundreds of vibrant pieces of rolled-up fabric, signifying individual dreams, memories and utopias, put together. However, the artwork makes it evident that in the hyper-urban existence of the new millenium different histories merge to create a novel narrative about the city, represented by the larger canvas holding the pieces of fabric together.

Name of ExhibitionYearPlace
Faces and Figures1989Pascual’s Upstairs Gallery, Santa Barbara, California, USA
A Painting Exhibition1989Cabrillo Art Center, Santa Barbara, California, USA
A Painting and Photography Exhibition1989Antioch University Gallery, Santa Barbara, California, USA
Diversity, The Unfolding Mystery1989University Center Gallery, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
Reflecting Culture Through Art1989Reynolds Gallery and Kerrwood Gallery, Westmont College, Montecito, California, USA
Spectrum: An Exhibition of Paintings1989Antioch University Gallery, Santa Barbara, California, USA
Kala Nirmana1989Multicultural Center, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.
Art: the Prism of the Spirit1991Gallery 1434, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
An Exhibition of Paintings1991University Center Gallery, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
An Exhibition of Paintings1991“Nicoleti” (University Center), University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
An Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture1992The Students’ Center, Chancellor Green Hall, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
Young Contemporaries Exhibition1993The National Art Gallery. Colombo, Sri Lanka
An Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture1993The Alliance Francaise de Colombo Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Aditi, an exhibition of sculpture1995Hotel Ceylon Inter-Continental, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Aditi, an exhibition of paintings and sculpture1995Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
NawaKalakaruwo Exhibition1995The National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Young Contemporaries Exhibition1996The National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
First International Artists’ Camp Exhibition1997National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Exhibition of Contemporary Sri Lankan Sculpture1997The National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
NawaKalakaruwo Exhibition1997The National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Aditi, an exhibition of paintings1997Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Self Help1998Malmö, Växjö, Örebro and Stockholm, Sweden
The Vehicle Named Woman1998Heritage Gallery. Colombo, Sri Lanka
Modes and Moods1998The National Art Gallery. Colombo, Sri Lanka
Self Help Art Exhibition1998Lionel Wendt Art Gallery. Colombo, Sri Lanka
INDEPENDENCE,an art exhibition to commemorate 50 years of independence in Sri Lanka1998Lionel Wendt Art Gallery. Colombo, Sri Lanka
No Order Group Exhibition1999VAFA Gallery, EthulKotte, Sri Lanka
Third International Artists’ Camp Exhibition1999National Art Gallery. Colombo, Sri Lanka
Exhibition of selected works by women artists commemorating ‘Women’s Day’1999VAFA Gallery. EthulKotte, Sri Lanka
My Narratives1999Gallery 706, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Reclaiming Histories: A Retrospective Exhibition of Women’s Art2000Sapumal Foundation Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
In the Entangled Web2001Barefoot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Crafty Thoughts2002University of Liverpool Gallery, Liverpool, UK
Asian Art Festival2002Fukuoka, Japan.
2nd Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale2002Fukuoka, Japan.
Goddesses Descending2003Studio @ HW Architects, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Urban and the Individual2004Finomenal Space Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Ten Artists Exhibition2005Millesgarden, Lidingo, Sweden
Swedish Sri Lankan Artists’’ Residency Exhibition2005Harold Peiris Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
critical Intimacy2006Harold Peiris Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Images of Globalization2007National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Arte Curioso2007Red Dot Gallery, Pita Kotte, Sri Lanka
Comfort Zones2007Red Dot Gallery, Pita Kotte, Sri Lanka
Six Degrees of Separation2008Ananth Gallery, Delhi, India
Separating Myth from Reality (Art Festival)2009Siddhartha Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal
Artful Resistance: Crisis and Creativity in Sri Lanka2009Museum fürVölkerkunde, Austria
Colombo Art Biennale2009Park Street, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Theertha Art- Works on Paper2009National Art Gallery, Male, Maldives
Creating Commonwealth2010DLF Emporio Mall (by Gallery Ragini), Delhi, India
Artful Resistance: Contemporary Art From Sri Lanka2010Museum der Weltkulturen, Frankfurt, Germany
Theertha Artists at Shanthi Road20101 Shanthi Road, Bangalore, India
Between Kismet and Karma2010Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds, UK
Theertha Artists at Shanthi Road20111 Shanthi Road, Bangalore, India
Kuveni: The Queen of Lanka2011Hempel Galleries, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Comfort Zones2012Kashi Gallery, Kochi, India
Becoming: Colombo Art Biennale2012J. D. A. Perera Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Serendipity Revealed2013China Art Project Space, Hong Kong
Art Basel 20132013Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
India Art Fair2013NSIC Exhibition Grounds, Okhla, New Delhi, India
Memory Keeper2013Shrine Empire Gallery, New Delhi, India
Beware: Wet Ink2014Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Serendipity Revealed2014Brunei Gallery, London, UK
Invented Identities2014Shrine Empire Gallery, New Delhi, India
Memorabilia2014Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore, India
Colombo Art Biennale2014J. D. A. Perera Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
India Art Fair2014NSIC Exhibition Grounds, Okhla, New Delhi, India
Performed2015Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Excavation/ Eruption2015Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
India Art Fair2015NSIC Exhibition Grounds, Okhla, New Delhi, India

Other Publicaitons the Artist has been mentioned in

Name of BookYear of PublicationAuthorPrinter

Documentaries

Name of DocumentaryYear of Production
“A Socio-Political Reading of Yanthra Gala and the Round Pilgrimage”. Review of Yanthra Gala and the Round Pilgrimage, the exhibition of paintings and installation by JagathWeerasinghe. The Daily News, 8th October 1997, Colombo.1997
“Reading the Art of Sensibility”. Review of The Art of Sensibility, H.A Karunratne’s exhibition of paintings. The Sunday Leader, 1st September 1997, Colombo.1997
Defining Authenticity. Catalogue of the 1st International Artists Camp,1997
“Angels”. Review of Balbir Bodh’s exhibition of paintings. Sunday Observer Magazine, 7th June 1998, Colombo.1998
“After a Dialogue with Two Artists”. Review of Dialogue, Christa Weber’s and JagathWeerasinghe’s exhibition of paintings. The Daily News, 28th January 1998, Colombo.1998
“Signs and Portents: An Exhibition of Artworks”. Review of exhibition by Yvonne Wiegers. The Daily News. 9th June 1999, Colombo, Sri Lanka.1999
“State of Sri Lankan Art”. Frontline. Issue of February 26th 1999. Chennai, India.1999
“New Strokes in ‘Independent Art.’” Introduction to the exhibition of paintings commemorating 50 years of Sri Lankan independence. The Sunday Leader, 15th February 1998, Colombo.2000
Is Artist’s Freedom a Negotiated Autonomy? KHOJ India International Artists Workshop 1999 catalogue. New Delhi, India.2000
Artists Against Violence: An Art Exhibition for Peace and Reconciliation. Catalogue of the NeelanThiruchelvam Commemorative Exhibition. 29th January 2000. Colombo, Sri Lanka.2000
“A New Order: Contemporary Visual Art in Sri Lanka”. Art Asia Pacific Issue 26, Sydney, Australia2000
Reclaiming Histories… Catalogue of Reclaiming Histories: Retrospective Exhibition of Women’s Art, Colombo, Sri Lanka.2000
“Historical Overlappings” (co-written with HiranthiWelandawa). In Architecture, Time, Space, People, Vol.1, Issue 7, October 2001. pp. 34-48.2001
Mapping Art South Asia. Eds. John Holt, Fareda Khan, AlnoorMetha, Jacques Rangasamy and Laura Tarney, London: Shisha.2006
“Men, Women and Architecture: Gender Identities and the Appropriation of Space” (co-written with HiranthiWelandawa) in Women and the Built Environment / Edited by Madhavi Desai. 1st ed. New Delhi: Zubaan.2007
“Women Artists in Sri Lanka: Are They Carriers of a Women’s Burden”. In South Asia Journal vol. 2, Pitakotte: Colombo Institute/ Theertha.2008
“Celestial Fervor: A Prelude to an Exhibition”. In Celestial Fervor: Art of JagathWeerasinghe ,Pitakotte: Red Dot Gallery/Theertha.2009

Ref :AN PER 28

Title :Cubist’s Dream 1

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2000

Measurements in Cms :42 x 29.5

Material Used :Acrylic, Charcoal, Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 29

Title :Cubist’s Dream 2

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2000

Measurements in Cms :42 x 29.5

Material Used :Acrylic, Charcoal on Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 13

Title :Dream Series 1

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2003

Measurements in Cms :37.5 x 27.5

Material Used :Mixed Media on Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 45

Title :Portrait

Signed :Middle Right

Year :2005

Measurements in Cms :38 x 28

Material Used :Acrylic, Pencil and Ink on Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 69

Title :Comfort Bodies VII

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2007

Measurements in Cms :61 x 43.5

Material Used :Graphite Pencil on Water Colour Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 42

Title :Lace

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2006

Measurements in Cms :41 x 29

Material Used :Acrylic and Ink on Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 18

Title :Civilizing Serendib – Series II

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2009

Measurements in Cms :63 x 51

Material Used :Acrylic, Water Colour on Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 70

Title :Comfort Bodies VI

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2007

Measurements in Cms :41 x 43

Material Used :Graphite Pencil on Water Colour Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 23

Title :The Search of my Second Skin

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2006

Measurements in Cms :58 x 45

Material Used :Pastel, Acrylic, Charcoal, Ink on Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 36

Title :Mother I

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2008

Measurements in Cms :63 x 51

Material Used :Acrylic, Charcoal, Ink on Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 62

Title :I Let My Hair Loose – Protest Series V

Signed :-

Year :2010

Measurements in Cms :76 x 51

Material Used :Ink Jet on Hahnemuhle Gloss Baryta Warmtone Fine Art Paper – Edition 1/3

 

Ref :AN PER 58

Title :Civilizing Serendib – Series III

Signed :-

Year :2010

Measurements in Cms :75.5 x 50.5

Material Used :Inkjet on Hahnemuhle Gloss Baryta Warmtone Fine Art Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 10

Title :Trojan Horse in the Premonition

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2011

Measurements in Cms :37 x 29.5

Material Used :Acrylic, Ball Point Pen & Ink on Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 72

Title :I can’t see the End. Neither can I see the Beginning – Series III

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2016

Measurements in Cms :61 x 38

Material Used :Acrylic, Ink, Charcoal, Pencil & Printed Image on Archival Hahnemuhle Fine Art Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 71

Title :Imagined Utophia

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2015

Measurements in Cms :68.5 x 54

Material Used :Acrylic, Ink, Charcoal on Water Colour Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 64

Title :Inescapable Inheritances 11

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2016

Measurements in Cms :53 x 52

Material Used :Digital Print, Acrylic, Charcoal, Water Color and Pencil on Acid Free Water Color Paper

 

Ref :AN PER 61

Title :Reinventing Landscape 11

Signed :Lower Right

Year :2016

Measurements in Cms :55.5 x 70.5

Material Used :Printed Image and Acrylic on Canvas

 

YearInstituteQualification
1984University of Colombo, Sri LankaB.A in Political Science, Sociology, and Economics
1986Bandaranaike Center for International Studies, Sri LankaPost Graduate Diploma in International Affairs
1989Continuing Education Program, Santa Barbara City College, California, USAStudio Three: Adult Education Art Group
1991Artworks: The Visual Art School for Continuing Education, Princeton, New Jersey, USAShort Course on Stone Carving and Apprenticeship under sculptor Milt Liebson
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