CAST THE FIRST STONE : CHANDRAGUPTHA THENUWARA

A moment from the New Testament is presented in a novel way in this exhibition, along with other accompanying work. The story of Jesus asking if a woman accused of prostitution should be stoned to death according to the old law is relevant to our current situation. Jesus was not afraid to change the old law, and challenged bystanders to judge themselves before judging others. I have used this parable along with accompanying paintings of women responding to such incidents to initiate a discussion on systemic injustice. 

Social media is being actively used at present, and in some instances it is also used to target vulnerable groups. This is especially true when it comes to women, sex workers and transgender people. Civil society and women's organisations are working towards improving the social and legal environment for these groups. Politicians have come to power promising a better life for all citizens, but these promises have not yet been fulfilled. 

Criminalising people based on sexual orientation is a violation of human rights, and despite some  progressive court rulings, outdated colonial-era laws such as Sections 365 and 365(a) of the Penal Code and the “Vagrance Ordinance” are still used to target these communities. However,narrow-minded attitudes or moral arguments cannot suppress citizens' fundamental rights and the law must always protect human dignity. Arbitrary arrests and intimidation of LGBTQI people continue, and hate speech is widespread on social media.

Female sex workers also face systemic police violence, including arbitrary arrests, sexual bribery and extortion. They are also exposed to violence from clients and sex traffickers, including unpaid work, physical and sexual abuse, and exploitation. Social stigma creates barriers, and many women fear further victimisation when seeking help. 

Lawmakers have worked hard for the good of humanity, but these forward-thinking proposals are yet to be approved. As a result, the struggle for change continues to face setbacks. Instead of recognizing the autonomy of the owner of the human body over it, outdated laws, so-called moral conventions, prejudiced social attitudes and the remnants of colonial rule continue to oppress female sex workers and transgender people. Reform efforts are hampered by socio-political and cultural fears.

Comprising of lotuses, swords, thorns, barbed wires, stupas, gloriosa lilies, human bodies, and lion's tails that morph into each other in intricate arrangements, Chandraguptha Thenuwara's drawings from 2014 - 2025  present the changing sociopolitical landscape in Sri Lanka.