Rinoshan Susiman(1993)
Rinoshan Susiman (b. 1993, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka; lives and works in Jaffna) is an interdisciplinary artist whose work bridges personal narratives with broader societal transformations. His practice is deeply rooted in the exploration of the human body, with a particular focus on unconscious bodily movements. Through these inquiries, he examines themes of identity, alienation, memory, and socio-political narratives, often questioning the fluidity and instability of personal and collective identities in a constantly shifting world.
Susiman employs both digital and traditional mediums, incorporating everyday objects most notably bed sheets as metaphors for landscape, identity, memory, and belonging. A defining aspect of his work is the daily documentation of his bed sheets, capturing imprints of unconscious movements and transient experiences. These records serve as raw material for his artistic explorations, allowing him to translate ephemeral moments into visual narratives.
Utilizing new media and technology as integral tools in his creative process, Susiman transforms these documented imprints into abstract mappings. Through a topographic visual language, he reimagines personal and societal landscapes, questioning artistic norms and engaging audiences in conversations about history, identity, and transformation. By elevating the mundane into profound cultural and emotional inquiries, his work challenges viewers to reconsider the intersections of personal experience and collective memory.
Susiman earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the Ramanathan Academy of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He later pursued a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Art and Design at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan, as a recipient of the prestigious UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asian Arts (UMISAA) scholarship.
His research-driven approach to artmaking manifests in both traditional and digital mediums, allowing him to craft immersive and thought-provoking works that challenge artistic conventions while fostering new perspectives on contemporary visual culture.
Exhibitions
Year | Exhibition | Venue |
2025 | COUNTDOWN: 1 Minute Film Night | The Barefoot Gallery, Colombo |
2025 | “KALA” Commune – South Asian Residency Open Studio and Exhibition Curated by Mandira Ranathunga, | The University of Visual & Performing Arts (UVPA), Colombo. |
2024 | “SELFSCAPE” Solo exhibition of new media art, Organized by ART CIRCLE, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna. | The Art Gallery, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
2024 | South Asian Art Exhibition by South Asia Foundation alumni artists of UMISAA-Beaconhouse National University, Lahore | Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal. |
2024 | “THE ATLAS OF ELSEWHERE,” curated by Prof. Risham Syed and Aarish Sardar, Co-curator: Waleed Zafar, Curatorial Advisor: Prof. Rashid Rana, | Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan. |
2024 | “UNITY IN FLUX: The Ones & the Zeros,” curated by Aarish Sardar | Ejaz Art Gallery, Lahore, Pakista the Pakistan National Council of Arts, Islamabad, n. |
2024 | Beyond the Gaze, supported by Photo South Asia, a project of the MurthyNAYAK Foundation | The Alliance Française de Dhaka, Bangladesh |
2024 | “SIMULTANEITY AS DESIGN”, Design Summit Lahore, curated by Prof. Rashid Rana | The Royal Kitchen, Walled City of Lahore, Pakistan. |
2023 | “Envision E-vision” chronicles of tomorrow, curated by Rashid Rana and Risham Sayed | The Pakistan National Council of Arts, Islamabad, Pakistan |
2023 | Lahore Digital Arts Festival | Lahore, Pakistan |
2023 | “Politics of Machines” micro edition, Curated by Aarish Sardar. | Lahore, Pakistan |
2023 | “Perpetuating Perplexities,” Curated by Waleed Zafar, Curatorial Advisor Rashid Rana. | HAAM Art Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan |
2023 | “Territories of Our Times,” MAADS Degree Show | Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan. |
2022 | “Metamorphosis,” IAC Art Gallery Group exhibition curated by Dr. Shahida Manzoor. | Lahore, Pakistan |
2020 | ARTRA Canvas Exhibition A series of works showcased for the first time. | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2019 | Serendipity Arts Festival (SAF),– Participated as an Artist and Associate in one of the largest multidisciplinary arts initiatives in the South Asian region. | South Asia |
2019 | “Be the Break,” JDA Perera Gallery A collaboration between Sri Lanka Unites and The Platform Establishment PVT Ltd. | JDA Perera Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2019 | Kalaikkudil Society Exhibition, Exhibition of visual arts | Theological College of Lanka, Pilimathalawa, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
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2018 | “Texting Being”, Performance | Theertha Performance Platform, Sri Lanka. |
2018 | ‘SEVEN ARTISTS’, Visual Art exhibition | Cargill’s Square |
2018 | “Inner Construction”, Exhibition of visual arts | Ramanathan Academy of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. |
2018 | “Existence”, Collective art project | Kochi Muziris Biennial, India. |
2018 | “Permutations and Possibilities,” Exhibition of photographs | Theertha Red Dot Gallery, Borella, Colombo, Sri Lanka. |
2018 | “Hybrid Discourse”, exhibition of moving images | Theertha Red Dot Gallery, Borella, Colombo, Sri Lanka. |
2018 | “Embodying Power”, Group exhibition | Sapumal Foundation, Colombo, Sri Lanka. |
2017 | “Motherland,” Cinnamon Colomboscope | Former Colombo Terminus Railway Station, Maradana, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2017 | “SHARING_II,” Exhibition of photographs | Suriyakantha Centre for Art & Culture, Naranwala, Handessa, Sri Lanka. |
2016 | Theertha Performance Evening, Colombo, Sri Lanka – Outcome of a 4-day Performance Workshop conducted by Jeetin Rangher, organized by | Theertha Performance Platform. Colombo, Sri Lanka. |
2016 | “SHARING,” Exhibition of photographs | Sanmarka Youth Community Center, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. |
2015 | “Science Navigators,” Visual art group exhibition | Teachers Training College, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. |
Selected Residencies and Workshops
Year | Title | Venue |
2025 | “KALA” Commune – South Asian Residency Open Studio and Exhibition an immersive four-week South Asian residency program | University of Visual & Performing Arts (UVPA), Colombo. |
2023 | “Beyond The Gaze 2023” – International Residential workshop | Murthy Nayak Foundation, New Delhi, India. |
2023 | ‘Forest School’ Collaborative Residential Workshop | Colomboscope, Geoffrey Bawa Trust, and Kālām, supported by EUNIC |
2023 | “Film Talents – Voices from Sri Lanka and Pakistan” | Goethe-Institut, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
2021 | MotM (Mantiq of the Mantis) Winter Residency | Lahore, Pakistan |
2019 | Doc Skool Documentary Lab | Clinik.Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Nepal |
2019 | Doc Skool Documentary Cinema Workshop | Clinik.Kathmandu, Theerath Red Dot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
Selected Commissions
- Untitled – A monumental sculpture crafted from a mix of materials, including metal cladding and stone, for the third edition of the Jaffna Queer Festival’s public art exhibition, aligning with the theme of ‘Animal Behavior.’
- Charcoal on Wall – An interactive video installation created for the third edition of the Jaffna Queer Festival in 2023, featuring sensor-based interactivity
Ref :SUSR 21
Title :The Landing
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2016
Measurements in Cms :20.25 x 30.25
Material Used :Woodcut 3/8
Ref :SUSR 26
Title :Composition
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2016
Measurements in Cms : 44.75 x 59
Material Used :Mixed medium
Ref :SUSR 19
Title :Landscape
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2017
Measurements in Cms :60 x 90
Material Used :Acrylic on canvas
Ref :SUSR 12
Title :Transformation
Signed :Lower Left and Lower Right
Year :2018
Measurements in Cms :90 x 119
Material Used :Acrylic on canvas
Ref :SUSR 14
Title :Her House
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2018
Measurements in Cms :67 x 125
Material Used :Mixed medium
Ref :SUSR 15
Title :Memories of the House
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2018
Measurements in Cms :92 x 152
Material Used :Acrylic on canvas
Ref :SUSR 16
Title :Constructor
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2018
Measurements in Cms :92 x 152.5
Material Used :Mixed medium
Ref :SUSR 17
Title :Construction
Signed :Lower Left
Year :2018
Measurements in Cms :122 x 91.5
Material Used :Mixed medium
Ref :SUSR 18
Title :Masturbation
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2018
Measurements in Cms :117.5 x 77
Material Used :Acrylic on canvas
Ref :SUSR 1
Title :I sleep
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2020
Measurements in Cms :25 x 30
Material Used :Acrylic, Pastel on Paper
Ref :SUSR 3
Title :My Bed
Signed :Lower Left
Year :2020
Measurements in Cms :25 x 36
Material Used :Acrylic, Pastel on Paper
Ref :SUSR 7
Title :On Bed
Signed :Mid Bottom
Year :2020
Measurements in Cms :35.5 x 101
Material Used :Oil, Acrylic, Pastel on Wrapping Paper
Ref :SUSR 10
Title :On Bed
Signed :Lower Right
Year :2020
Measurements in Cms :54 x 71.5
Material Used :Oil, Acrylic, Pastel on Wrapping Paper
Education
Year | Qualification | Institute |
Mar 2021 – Feb 2023 | Master of Art and Design Studies | School of Visual Art and Design, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, Pakistan |
Aug 2014 – Dec 2018 | Bachelor of Fine Arts (Art & Design) | Ramanathan Academy of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna, Jaffna |
