“…he consciously engages in two activities. One is to take the most mundane and ‘taken for granted’ objects from the arena of common electronic apparatuses and transform them into large scale versions.

Through this transformation, he presents these objects to us as ‘unique’ objects. The other is, through this very process of enlarging, he subtly allows these objects to obtrude a sense of masculinized and feminized erotic sensations.” Anoli Perera

Thisath Thoradeniya is a prominent Sri Lankan contemporary visual artist whose multifaceted practice spans painting, sculpture, installation, and kinetic art. Thoradeniya emerged as part of the post-1990s generation of Sri Lankan artists who challenged traditional aesthetics and embraced conceptual experimentation. His works often explores gendered symbolism and consumer culture, using enlarged everyday objects like electrical plugs and switches to highlight the eroticization embedded in industrial design.

He frequently repurposes industrial and domestic objects to create sculptures and installations that interrogate themes of gender, consumerism, and control. His work blends handcrafted elements with found materials, drawing attention to the tension between utility and symbolism. This tactile, materially sensitive approach allows him to challenge viewers’ perceptions of function and aesthetics, as well as to critique the commodification of daily life.

Thoradeniya’s art delves into themes of memory, conflict, and the socio-political landscape of Sri Lanka as well. In 2021, during the Tandem Residencies at Colomboscope, he collaborated with Pakistani artist Omer Wasim to explore the intersections of botanical species, colonial legacies, and the afterlife of conflict across various Sri Lankan locales. His works have been exhibited internationally, including at the Colombo Art Biennale in 2014 and the Asian Art Biennale in Dhaka in 2008.

A founding member of the Theertha International Artists Collective, Thoradeniya played a significant role in fostering experimental art in Sri Lanka. He helped establish Theertha’s international art programs and the Red Dot Gallery, a space dedicated to showcasing contemporary and critical art practices. His commitment to collaborative and socially engaged art continued through his involvement in initiatives like ‘Our Stories’ by The Asia Foundation, where he mentored young artists in transforming oral histories into visual narratives. He is also part of “The Collective”, a group of Sri Lankan artists promoting contemporary art in Sri Lanka.

Thoradeniya continues to engage in collaborative projects and exhibitions that interrogate the complexities of Sri Lankan identity and history. His practice remains rooted in a critical examination of everyday objects and narratives, transforming them into powerful commentaries on society and culture. Through his art, Thoradeniya invites viewers to reconsider the mundane and recognize the layered meanings embedded within the material world.