Statement
An amalgam of influences of the author's background working as a doctor, scientist and artist in the East (born in Sri Lanka) and West (living in the UK) is reflected in the artwork exploring the social hieroglyphics that evolve in the manner that humans clothe their bodies.
The work relates to the narrative of a book using this ubiquitous tool to crack the dress code, blurring boundaries between the artist/artisan, orient/occident and the past and present.
Mixed media assemblage techniques combining traditional forms of printmaking are digitally manipulated to transform unique artwork into democratic multiple copies. Often several narratives unfold within the hidden spaces of the book as a detachable spine allows the book to be undressed.
The artist's work is published and exhibited internationally and held in several private and public collections (in the UK, USA, Netherlands, Hungary, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Germany) including Tate Britain.
Education
MA (Book Arts), 2004, Camberwell College of Arts, London
MPhil, 1996, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
MSc, 1994, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
MBBS, 1983, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Links
Prizes and awards
- Melville Charitable Trust Award (1st prize), 2008
- Birgit Skiold Award for excellence in Book Arts, London Artists Book Fair, Institute of Contemporary Art, London, 25th November 2005
- Grand Prize at the 1st International Book Arts Competition, Seoul, South Korea, 3-8th June 2005
- Prize in the Kaleidoscope Hoffmann Challenge, National Quilt Championships, Ascot, July 2001
Curated exhibitions
15 to 1, 1 May - 11 June 2008, School of Art, Media and Design, University of the West of England, Bristol
www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk/15to1.htm
Selected exhibitions and acquisitions
2008
- artist's books at the Arnolfini Bookshop
- Nine Printmakers Riverside Gallery, Hammersmith, London 1st-29th February
2007
- Tetovo 2007, 4th International Biennial Mini Prints Exhibition, Museum of Tetovo, Republic of Macedonia
- Freedom. Abolition of Slavery, University of Sunderland
- London Artists Bookfair 07, ICA, London
- Babylon Lexicon/Nola Bookfair, New Orleans, LA, USA
- SMALL PRINT/Big Impression, The Avenue Gallery, University of Northampton
- Manchester Artist Bookfair, Holden Gallery, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Bookmarks V Infiltrating, Japan, UK, Poland, USA, Croatia and New Zealand
- The British Sari Story, Brent Museum, London
- Rich and Strange, Flock Gallery Space, Newport School of Art Media and Design and Newport Central Library
- Society of Bookbinders Conference, University of York
- Multiple Views. Printmakers' Council Exhibition, Ropewalk Gallery, Lincolnshire
- Sitting Room, Bookarts Symposium, Winchester School of Art
- Abolition 2007, Circular Green, Morley College, London SE1
- Printmaking Show J:Akebono-so Gallery, Isesaki, Japan
- Watermarks, Arts+Literature Laboratory, New Haven, CT. USA
- Suburban Landscape, Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture, Barnet, Herts
- I Love Print, London Print Studio, Harrow Road
- Lessedra Miniprint Annual 2007
- LOOP 2007 Bankside Gallery, London(www.arts.ac.uk/alumni/27217.htm)
- Loveletter to London, ELP group show, Greater London Authority
- Wrexham Print International 2007, Wrexham Art Centre & Yale College
- Regenerator, Altered Books, Off-Centre Gallery, Bristol
- Bristol Artist Bookfair Event. BABE 2007, Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol.
- Nine Printmakers, Riverside Gallery, London
- 7th Helen Keller International Award Exhibition. Collins Gallery, University of Strathclyde Glasgow
2006
- Sitting Room: an exhibition of artists' books, Alsager Arts Centre
- LAB '06. London Artist Book Fair, ICA London(Perception VI - Acquisition for the Tate Britain Special Collection)
- Surface and Object. An Origin in Printmaking. Printmakers Council. Morley Gallery. London
- Bookmarked! Crockatt & Powell Bookshop, Waterloo
- Babylon Lexicon. Hot Iron Press, New Orleans Bookfair, LA, USA
- Dream Landings - A Public Art exhibition to celebrate Black History Month, Bedding Department, John Lewis Store, Watford
- 1st Manchester Artist Book Fair. Holden Gallery, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Bookmarks IV - Infiltrating USA, Europe and Australia
- 4, London Print Studio
- The Sitting Room, an exhibition of artists books, Manchester Craft & Design Centre
- 6th British International Miniature Print Exhibition (touring exhibition)
- 4th International Artist's Book Exhibition, King St Stephen Museum, Hungary
- 5th Lessedra World Art Print Annual (Mini), Bulgaria
- Art of the STITCH 2006 International Biennial Exhibition (touring exhibition)
- Contemporary Prints by Selected Artists from the Printmakers' Council, New Arts Centre, Chatham, Kent
- 9th Contemporary Artists' Book Fair, Dean Clough Gallery, Halifax
- 60 Square Inches Biennial, Purdue University
- juxtaBOX, Shoreditch Gallery, London
2005
- LAB '05. (London Artists' Book Fair), Institiute of Contemporary Art, London
- Contemporary Prints 3, London Print Studio
- To Bare or Not To Bare, acquisition, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
- Acquisition, PrintROOM, Rotterdam
- Bookmarks III: Infiltrating Kontakt, Universitat der Kunste Gallery, Berlin, Germany, Muzeum Narodowe w Poznaniu (National Museum of Posnan, Poland, Broekhuis Boekhandle (Enschede, The Netherlands), Bower Ashton Library, University of West England (Bristol, UK), Moufflon Bookshop (Nicosia, Cyprus), Yale Centre for British Arts (USA), University of Missouri (Saint Louis, USA), Amherst College Library (Amherst, USA), Martin County Library System Gallery (Fairmont Minnesota, USA), Tate Britain (London, UK), Bookartbookshop (London, UK)
- Primary Source - An exhibition of Artists Books, University of Warwick
- Hibrida II, Bradford and Czech Republic
- 2nd International Book Arts Fair, Seoul, South Korea
- Tate Britain, acquisition of book & CD-ROM (10-20 Sizing up the Opposition)
- 8th Contemporary Artists' Book Fair, Halifax
2004
- LAB'04, London Artists' Book Fair, Institute of Contemporary Art, London
- Clothes Show (alternate construction of garments modelled on a catwalk)
- Window Dressing solo show, Spread the Word Headquarters, London
- Opening of the Book, Camberwell College of Art, London
- Camberwell College Library, 2 acquisitions (To Bare or not To Bare and The Countess and the Housewife)
- Cracking the Dress Code, Projet Mobilivre Bookmobile 2004/2005, Canada & USA
- 1st International Book Fair, Seoul, South Korea
- Tate Britain, 3 acquisitions (To Bare or Not To Bare, Outside In and Against the Grain)
- 7th Contemporary Artist's Book Fair, Halifax
- Obscure, Bexley Hall, Kent
2003
- Text, Textiles and Textures, Ley Hill Memorial Hall
- To Fly or Not to Fly, Wildfowl and Wetland Trust Headquarters, Slimbridge Gloucestershire, Embroiderers' Guild, President's Cup Embroidery
2001
- East Meets West, Art Quilt, National Quilt Championships, Ascot
