Collectivism in the contemporary sri lankan art: The history of an unusual case of artists

Abstract

Focusing on the Theertha International Artists’ Collective in Sri Lanka, this chapter explores the dynamics and nature of art collectivism. Theertha is an artist-led initiative that has been active since the 1990s. The 1990s marks an important period in the history of contemporary art in Sri Lanka that also witnessed the radical transformation of much of South Asian art within national contexts, particularly visible in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan in somewhat similar ways as in Sri Lanka. Theertha has been able to set in motion a particular brand of art activities within Sri Lanka, and beyond. This was more than providing a platform for experimental or conceptual art that probed social and political conditions in the country. It was also about formulating local expertise in curating, publishing material on art and its politics for a broader discourse, setting up a dedicated exhibition space for radical art and training of art teachers. In this context, the chapter explores the socio-political and ideological manoeuvrings and the grounding of the artists involved in this initiative within the larger landscape of art, back-grounding the culture and politics of Sri Lanka.