Group exhibition of 12 female artists in Colombo to mark International Women’s Day

The exhibition “With My Back to the World”

Saskia Fernando Gallery (41 Horton Pl, Colombo), a contemporary art gallery in Colombo 07, is currently holding the group exhibition “With My Back to the World.”

The exhibition was organized to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8, showcasing the works of 12 female artists in the contemporary art field in Sri Lanka. The title is taken from a work by Agnes Martin, an abstract painter known as a pioneer of Minimalism. The exhibition does not have a theme, intending to invite viewers “to engage in and celebrate artistic practices that possess intricacies more attuned to female intuition, without seeking a cause or reason behind the works.”

Among the artists exhibited were Fabienne Francotte, whose works are characterized by the motif of lips; Hansika Herath, who depicts female forms and nature in woodcut printing; Anomaa Rajakaruna, who tells visual stories through documentary photography; and Saskia Pintelon, who uses collage to express environmental changes. The works on display range from embroidery, beadwork, woodblock printing, painting, sculpture, assemblage, and photography.

The curator explains, “Women’s experiences aren’t monolithic, instead, it is a celebration of the artistic expressions that define these artists and their work. We ask viewers to observe, feel and respond to the subtleties in art-making. It is an invitation to engage with the process and the conversations that emerge across different disciplines.”

The exhibition is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. until April 2. Closed on Sundays.