Jagath Weerasinghe, in his musings of the nature of contemporary art, reflects that ‘at its core, contemporary art is an engagement with the present…It unites diverse practices, ideas, and materials, creating reflections on both local and global concerns.’ The talk ‘Indian Oceans Affiliations in the Making of Modern and Contemporary Sri Lankan Art’, presented by the George Keyt Foundation held at the Forum, Cinnamon Life Colombo on 8th December at 11am, served to reinforce Weerasinghe’s sentiment, and featured an insightful panel discussion with Jagath Weerasinghe himself, alongside Ishrat Kanga, Mariah Lookman, and Anoma Wijewardene, prolific artists, critics and experts across the Sri Lankan, and larger South Asian art scene.

Malaka Talwatte, Chairman of the George Keyt Foundation, inaugurated this charity auction in partnership with Sotheby’s, to raise funds for the fulfilment of The George Keyt Foundation’s numerous enterprises. For over 34 years, The George Keyt Foundation has engaged, as a central participant, in advancing commercial platforms for Sri Lankan artists. Sotheby’s united with the foundation for this sequence of events intended to enrich Sri Lankan visual artists to a global platform. Well-regarded artists and art collectors kindly contributed works for this vendue, helping to continue to elevate Sri Lankan artists. 

Ishrat Kanga, a vital personality of the panel, is the Director, Specialist and Co-Worldwide Head of Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art for Sotheby’s, London who partnered with the George Keyt Foundation, Sri Lanka for this first ever charity auction held. Professor Jagath Weerasinghe, who is Emeritus Professor at Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology University of Kelaniya was also a member of the panel. Mariah Lookman teaches at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in Karachi, and is an artist who was commissioned for the Istanbul Biennial in 2022 as well as the Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh and Colomboscope Art Festival in Sri Lanka in 2021. Anoma Wijewardene, who also participated on stage, has exhibited around the world from London to Sydney, as well as several exhibitions in Colombo. She represented South Asia at the Women Artists of the Silk Route, One Belt One Road show at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2016. She was the first solo artist from Sri Lanka to be shown during the 2019 Venice Biennale with her multimedia installation Kintsugi. 

During this discussion Weerasinghe, Wijewardena and Lookman expressed their views on the history of art in South Asia through their perspectives as artists in the region, touching on colonialism and how this history has made art in Sri Lanka possible. They discussed how historical maps were made of Sri Lanka as early as 194 BC, and the various names historically given to the island by traders and colonists.

The discussion started with the history of George Keyt as well as the ‘43 Group’ and how they were the first to expose Sri Lanka to the concept of modernist art. George Keyt (whom the foundation is named after) is one of Sri Lanka’s renowned modernist painters who has had an incomparable influence on the art and culture in Sri Lanka and South Asia.  Emphasizing how Sri Lanka ushered in the modern and contemporary art in the South Asia region, the panel elaborated upon how artists in the ‘43 Group’ played a central role in the globalization of artistic historical standards by bridging the European modernist movement with Sri Lanka. This was the first movement of its kind in the South Asian region, predating even India, whose first significant group of modern artists was formed in 1947, four years after the ‘43’ Group’ in Sri Lanka was well set in their way. 

The discussion progressed on to the influences of Indian, especially South Indian and more Western cultural inspirations on Sri Lankan art, allowing it to change form through the years. Modern artworks have progressed from the traditional academic, and stylistic forms into more modernistic styles which was initiated by artists such as George Keyt. The discussion emphasized upon this notion of historical change, reflecting upon the progression of Sri Lankan contemporary art from the post-independence period. Wijewardene and Weerasinghe, in the talk,  spoke of the progression of modern artists in the South Asian region, who having bonded as artists over the years, have become increasingly interconnected, leading to a form contemporary art in the region less hindered by boundaries such as geography and politics. 

This talk was the lead up to the George Keyt Foundation's first Charity Auction of Modern and Contemporary Sri Lankan Art, made possible through their partnership with Sotheby’s, held on Monday, 9th of December at The Forum, Cinnamon Life, Colombo 02 at 6.30pm. This event consisted of expertly selected works from 35 of some of the most significant artists from Sri Lanka. As highlighted by the art talk held on Sunday, this Charity Auction  represents a critical juncture in the relationship between Sri Lanka’s art scene and that of the wider region, one where the richness of the nation’s Modern Art history and Contemporary evolutions are able to meaningfully connect with the thriving realms of art across the rest of South Asia. In this spirit, ARTRA Magazine will be launching its forthcoming South Asian Contemporary Art Edition 68 in February 2025. Set to be launched at Art Trail, Galle Literary Festival, Feb 6 - 9 2025, this edition will feature a curated series of works by prolific South Asian contemporary artists Ali Kazim (Pakistan), Anoli Perera (Sri Lanka) and Tayeba Begum Lipi (Bangaladesh) that critically the body, it’s cultural memory and gender performativity through the lens of the South Asian gaze.

Representing historical works from the modernist period by members of the 43’ Group including George Keyt (1901 - 1999), Richard Don Gabriel (1924 - 2016) and Justin Pieris Daraniyagala (1903 - 1967), as well as the holistic range of contemporary works by renowned artists such as Senaka Senanayake, whose works are anchored in brilliantly colored panoramas of Sri Lanka’s flora and fauna; Muhanned Cader, who graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago, focuses his works in a more muted and abstract form leaving the observer the right to marvel at the shapes and colors of the gems he creates; Anup Vega, whose works seem to focus more on the self, turmoil and the transformations of nature within. Featured artists also include Anoli Perera, Jagath Weerasinghe, Anoma Wijewardene and Chandraguptha Thenuwara, just to name a few. The auction presented a selection of works from pioneering and influential artists from this island whose creations show a range of variety and mediums, from completely abstract to elaborate symbolic works. 

Regarding the significance of the breadth of work available in the Charity Auction’s catalogue, Malaka Talwatte, Chairman of the George Keyt Foundation stated that the presented collection “transcends a mere listing of works; it stands as a testament to the generosity and commitment of our community and celebrates the transformative power of art and philanthropy.” He went on to elaborate that “ Many of the artworks featured are rare, thought-provoking pieces that capture our post-independence heritage as well as contemporary reflections on Sri Lankan society.”

The George Keyt Foundation’s Charity Auction of Modern and Contemporary Sri Lankan Art was a tremendous success with donations from artists and collectors vibrantly and significantly expressing the unique story of each artist’s journey in the ever-expanding world of Sri Lankan art, exploring the nation’s evolving identity, history and social changes across the years, from the post-independence era.

Written by Namalee Siriwardhane

Edited by Kavinu Cooray