Anushiya Sundaralingam, a Sri Lankan born artist based in Northern Ireland, presents Adrift, her first solo exhibition at Saskia Fernando Gallery, which wades through the quagmire of migration and is grounded in her personal experience of leaving her homeland during political unrest.
Sundaralingam, who is from Jaffna, migrated in the late 1980s amid the civil war. The emotional weight of the artist’s arduous journey continues to inform her practice with the recurring image of the boat serving as a metaphor for both departure and arrival. In seeking shared experiences of community and connection, her practice offers a poignant reflection on the uncertainty that shapes the lives of people across conflict zones worldwide.
“My work is deeply influenced by my surroundings and heritage, often experimenting with materials and methods to create pieces that are both visually striking and rich in meaning. This balance of innovation and tradition underpins my ongoing journey as an artist, ” says Sundaralingam.
