VAJIRA GUNAWARDENA
THE SECOND NATURE
VAJIRA GUNAWARDENA
09 AUGUST 2018 - 29 AUGUST 2018
2 ALFRED HOUSE ROAD COLOMBO 3 T 2582162, 2556563 E art@paradiseroad.lk
THE SECOND NATURE Vajira is unquestionably the best-known Sri Lankan artist perpetuating the legacy of Basquiat, Haring, Combas, Ouzani, and Cuban Sosabravo. Inspired by their vision challenging the existing order, innumerable anonymous youth transformed our urban environment, their motivation and expression rooted in humanity’s origins. Known today as “street art”, “graffiti”, or “tags”, it has become an international movement of unrestrained creativity, a vivid and contradictory expression of the anxieties and dreams of our societies in crisis. Sri Lanka is no exception! With this exhibition, Vajira draws an uncompromising portrait. Essentially, artists are rebels; among them is Vajira Gunawardena. Jean-Pierre Page Writer and Critic, France
Modern Citizen V, 2018 Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 110 x 120 cm
Modern Citizen VII, 2018, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 90 x 90 cm
Modern Citizen VI, 2017, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 46 x 46 cm
Fire Walk With Me II, 2018, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 85 x 86 cm
Fire Walk With Me I, 2017, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 85 x 86 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers III, 2017, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 110 x 120 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers II, 2016, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 110 x 120 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers VI, 2018, Oil bar, Acrylic and oil on canvas, 110 x 120 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers IV, 2017, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 110 x 120 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers VII, 2018, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 110 x 120 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers VIII, 2017, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 46 x 46 cm
Modern Citizen I, 2017 Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 46 x 46 cm
Fire Walk With Me III, 2018, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 110 x 120 cm
Modern Citizen II, 2017, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 76 x 102 cm
Fire Walk With Me IV, 2018, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 110 x 120 cm
Fire Walk With Me V, 2018, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 75 x 75 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers I, 2015, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 120 x 125 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers IX, 2017, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 46 x 46 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers V, 2018, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 110 x 120 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers X, 2017, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 46 x 46 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers XI, 2017, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 46 x 46 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers XII, 2018, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 46 x 46 cm
I Can’t Paint Van Gogh’s Sunflowers XIII, 2018, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 75 x 75 cm
Modern Citizen III, 2017, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 76 x 102 cm
Modern Citizen IV, 2017, Oil bar, Acrylic & oil on canvas, 46 x 46 cm
VAJIRA GUNAWARDENA b. 1971 Education 2002
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA degree) Institute of Aesthetic Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Solo Exhibition 2014
Real World Virtuality, Paradise Road Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2012
Virtual Fiction World, Paradise Road Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2009
Sublime Window, Paradise Road Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2008
Dream Factory, Drawings Exhibition, Alliance Françoise de Colombo, Sri Lanka
2008
The Impossibility of The Perfectly Ordinary, Art Exhibition, Mieke Kooistra’s Residence Place, Colombo,
Sri Lanka
2007
The Dream Factory, Art Exhibition, Barefoot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2005
My Recent Paintings, Paradise Road Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2001
Gap2001, Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Group Exhibition 2014
International Artists Summit, Group Exhibition at Exclamation Gallery, 798 Art Zone, Beijing, China
2013
Beauty and Agony, New Art from Sri Lanka Group Exhibition Curator by Priyantha Udadethera at Leeds
Metropolitan University Gallery, UK
2012
El Reflejo (The Reflection), The Travel Exhibition of Contemporary Cuban and Sri Lankan Art, Restaurant des
Delegues, Slon Geneve, 8th floor, The United Nations Office, Geneva, Switzerland
2011
Group Exhibition in Diamonds La Gemma dell’Est. Hotels, Zanzibar, Tanzania
2011
El Reflejo (The Reflection), Exhibition of Contemporary Cuban and Sri Lankan Art, New Embassy House,
co-sponsored by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Havana, the National Council of Plastic Arts of Cuba, the
Cuban National Commission of UNESCO and The Wilfredo Lam Centre for Contemporary Art, Havana,
Cuba 2011
Contemporary Art from Sri Lanka, Art Exhibition, Curators by Saskia Fernando and Josephine Breese, Asia
House, London, UK
2010
Artful Resistance: Crisis and Creativity in Sri Lanka Contemporary Art Exhibition in Europe, The Serendib
Gallery, Colombo and Museum der Weltkulturen, Galerie 37, Frankfurt, Germany
2008
Artful Resistance: Crisis and Creativity in Sri Lanka, Contemporary Art Exhibition in Europe, The Serendib
Gallery, Colombo and Museum of Ethnology, Vienna, Austria
2008
Contemporary Art in Sri Lanka, The Group Exhibition of Visual Arts, The Gallery Art Korner, Netherlands
2006 12th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh Group Exhibitions (Local) 2017
International Visual Arts Exhibition, Fine Arts University, JDA Perera Gallery, Sri Lanka
2017
Art at the Festival, Group Art Exhibition, Leo Burnett Company and Galle Literary Festival, Galle Fort, Sri Lanka
2016
Untitled, Group Art Exhibition and Academic Discussion, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
2016
Untitled, Group Art Exhibition, Fine Arts University, JDA Perera Gallery, Sri Lanka
2016
The Fine Arts University, Department of Sculpture Teacher’s Show, JDA Perera Gallery, Sri Lanka
2016
Untitled, Group Art Exhibition, Barefoot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2016
El Reflejo (The Reflection) The Travel exhibition of Contemporary Cuban and Sri Lankan Arts, JDA Perera
Gallery, Sri Lanka
2015
Untitled, Group Art Exhibition, Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2011
Exhibition of Visual Arts the Group Exhibition at Stairway Gallery in Thilanka Hotel, Kandy, Sri Lanka
2010
Constellation, Group Exhibition of Visual Arts, Barefoot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2007
Where, Who, How, What and When, Group Exhibition of Visual Arts, Barefoot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2007
Nawa Kalakarowo, Visual Art Biennale Sri Lanka, The George Keyt Foundation, The National Art Gallery,
Colombo, Sri Lanka
2007
Visual Art Biennale Sri Lanka, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2006
Feb, Group Exhibition of Visual Arts, Barefoot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2004
Young Contemporary, The George Keyt Foundation, Harold Peiris Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2003
Sculptors and Painters, The George Keyt Foundation, Harold Peiris Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2003
Nawa Kalakaruwo, 10th Annual Exhibition, The George Keyt Foundation, Harold Peiris Art Gallery, Colombo,
Sri Lanka
2001
National Art Festival, The Ministry of Cultural Affairs, National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2000
Alternative Dream, Group Art Exhibition, Arlen Art and Craft Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2000
Young Contemporary, The George Keyt Foundation, National Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2 ALFRED HOUSE ROAD COLOMBO 3 T 2582162, 2556563 E art@paradiseroad.lk