At first glance, Ajantha Ranaweera's paintings and installations in Gaman Māligā on view at Colombo's Saskia Fernando Gallery are a riot of colour, but beneath the surface lies something more than just an artist's vivid imagination. Collectively, these works stand as a profound meditation on decolonisation, caste politics, cosmopolitanism and perhaps, more importantly, the act of reclaiming one's own identity and heritage at a time when cultural revivalism is increasingly dominating conversations across South Asia. Colombo-based Ranaweera wears many hats, including that of an architect and interior designer and seems chiefly interested in what he calls "the modern Sri Lankan aesthetic." Gaman Māligā is yet another affirmation of the 38-year-old's passion for exploring Sri Lanka's rich history through a distinctly contemporary lens. Drawing inspiration from both the ancient Sri Lankan mural techniques—particularly, the Dambulla Cave Temple murals—and traditional Kandyan architecture, the exhibition is about "looking inwards and creating not only a modern Sri Lankan identity in visual arts and design but also in fashion, architecture, interiors and other creative fields," says Ranaweera.
