Discover a surreal underwater world in ‘Elsewhere,’ where towering terrestrial flora creates a haven for a forgotten civilization.
Saskia Fernando Gallery presents ‘Elsewhere’, an exhibition by artist Sandatharaka Abeysinghe. ‘Elsewhere’ imagines a surreal realm submerged beneath the water, where terrestrial flora has evolved into towering giants, creating a haven for a forgotten civilization. Inspired by Ilya Repin’s ‘Sadko’, Sandatharaka Abeysinghe envisions an underwater world where a city engulfed by water continues to thrive in the present day, hidden from the world above.
Abeysinghe completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the University of Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, in 2019. His work has been showcased in solo exhibitions at Paradise Road Galleries and JDA Perera Gallery, and he has also participated in numerous group exhibitions in India, China, Italy, and Bangladesh. His work has been featured in ‘Re-imagining Ceylon: Contemporary Artist in Sri Lanka’, an Imago Mundi publication by the Benetton Foundation.
Abeysinghe’s practice is deeply influenced by rich folklore and rural traditions, capturing the essence of rural life amidst the relentless advance of urbanization. The artist explores new visual trajectories, experimenting with oil paint to create a hyper-realistic, scintillating world brimming with tropical colours. Breaking away from conventional painting techniques, Abeysinghe freely experiments with digital technology, generative AI, and still-life drawing to conceptualize his images before bringing them to life on canvas.
Abeysinghe’s imagination brings to life a romanticized interpretation of Sri Lankan culture and history in a world that transcends the rigid categories of modernity.
Abeysinghe’s work is profoundly shaped by vibrant folklore and rural customs, encapsulating the spirit of rural life in the face of advancing urbanization.
Foggy day brought to life by freely experimenting with digital technology, generative AI and still-life drawing.
Artist Sandatharaka Abeysinghe.
