Sivasubramaniam Kajendran, 2025, The Moon Under The Sea VII

Examining the intricate and tenuous relationship between coastal communities of the Northern and Eastern regions of Sri Lanka and the seas that sustain them, Sivasubramaniam Kajendran’s exhibition ‘The Moon Under the Sea’ explores how the rhythms of the tides are woven into their collective consciousness. The Indian Ocean is a living breathing force that impacts the culture, spirituality, and daily existence of coastal communities. The enriching waters act as a living archive for the memories of generations who have lived along the coast, preserving the vitality and resilience of the coastal communities of Sri Lanka. This marks Kajendran’s first solo exhibition at PRSFG. 

Kajendran received his MFA from Beaconhouse National University, Lahore (2019) and BFA from the University of Jaffna, Jaffna (2014). Kajendran’s work has been featured recently at Rajiv Menon Contemporary, Los Angeles (2024), Pristine Gallery, New Delhi (2024) and Aicon Contemporary, New York (2024). He is a recipient of the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asian Art Scholarship. Earlier this year Sivasubramaniam Kajendran was selected for the prestigious Cité Internationale des Arts 2025/2026 residency programme in Paris. The programme, led by the Institut français and Cité Internationale des Arts, brings together 44 artists and cultural professionals from 34 nationalities, offering them a unique platform to develop their artistic practice.

Image Courtesy | PRSFG

Kajendran captures the essence of coastal life, blending everyday scenes with mythical and natural imagery. His figures, bathed in deep blacks and blues are both burdened and strengthened by their strong ties to the ocean. Birds, fish, and tropical fruits appear, perched on figures that seem to mimic the movements of marine creatures. These anthropomorphic figures embody both human and animalistic features, blurring the lines between the coastal environments and the communities that inhabit them. A key theme in Kajendran’s work is the mother figure, symbolising the nurturing maternal presence of the seas. The ocean can also be the harbinger of unspeakable destruction, all too familiar to the coastal communities of Sri Lanka that experienced the devastating 2004 tsunami. For coastal communities in Sri Lanka, the ocean is both a life-giver and a force to be feared. 

‘The Moon Under the Sea’ also reflects on the histories of the coastal landscape, exploring the way the land and its people have been impacted and shaped by the colonial past. Kajendran creates textured and layered collages that depict melancholy humans slumped under church steeples, the figures almost seem to be floating as their connection to their history and land is cut off by forced conversion and colonial violence. His work speaks to a history shaped by colonialism and its lasting impact, showing how the past and present are intertwined and shape the land. The artist also touches on the trauma of civil conflict and ongoing resistance of these communities, particularly in the North and East, where people continue to live under military rule. Kajendran examines the tension between reconciling the trauma of the past and fighting for justice and freedom in the present. 

‘The Moon Under the Sea’ by Sivasubramaniam Kajendran opened on 13 February 2025 and will run until 18 March 2025 at PRSFG, 138 Galle Road, Colombo 03.