Chathurika Jayani
A graduate of the University of Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, Jayani has exhibited extensively both locally and internationally. Locally, her works have been showcased at the Saskia Fernando Gallery, Paradise Road Galleries and Sri Lankan Art curated by the George Keyt Foundation. Internationally she has exhibited in South Asian platforms in Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal including the Asian Art Biennale. Chathurika is the recipient of numerous accolades at the State Art and Sculpture Festival including 1st place in 2011–2012, 2nd place in 2020, and 1st place again in 2024.
Jayani’s signature mixed-media practice is characterized by her bold colours and textures using unconventional materials ranging from corrugated board to handmade paper, threads which she crafts with needles and gas torch burners. Her works explore themes of urbanization, industrialization, and human connection capturing the delicate interplay between the stresses of everyday urban living framed by hope, latterly through the resilient female gaze.
Her early series “City” (2012) and “New Works” (2014, 2016) examined the transformative dynamics of urban landscapes speaking to the effects of industrial expansion, urban decay and community resilience.
Her more introspective works such as “The Secret Vows” (2018–2020), delved into the themes of identity, emotional vulnerability and societal expectations commenting on the nuanced tensions between personal desires and collective obligations.
With her 2022 exhibition “Dreamscape” at the Saskia Fernando Gallery, Jayani ventured into the fantastical realm blurring imagination with reality with vibrant chaotic cityscapes blending with dreamlike serenity. These works depicted rapid urbanization, juxtaposing modern high-rises with shantytown neighborhoods to explore the tensions between progress and identity. Jayani’s works also illustrate the generic shapes of buildings found around the globe to question the role of identity and the vernacular in today’s architecture.
In all her works Jayani draws attention to the ethical and environmental costs of development.
At Cinnamon Life, Chathurika Jayani’s large-scale installation in the L24 lobby, part of her Dreamscapes series, draws inspiration from the corrugated tiling commonly found in Sri Lankan architecture. These geometric and vibrant forms not only celebrate the nation’s architectural vernacular but also serve as a metaphor for the urbanization and redevelopment shaping the country. The installation, with its playful yet foreboding structures, critiques the rapid pace of construction projects, shedding light on their societal and environmental consequences. Jayani’s work encourages viewers to consider the legacies left behind by urban expansion balancing awe for the grandiosity of development with a critical perspective on its ethical and ecological impact.
Her “Dream Paradise” series, commissioned for the suite rooms at Cinnamon Life, collection celebrates Sri Lanka’s 25 districts. Each large-scale artwork in the series juxtaposes the unique landscapes, heritage, and people with industrial imagery to define the island’s multifaceted fabric of Sri Lanka. By placing these contrasts side by side, Jayani highlights the complexities inherent in the country’s evolution, emphasizing the tension between preserving its natural and cultural heritage and embracing progress.
The works in the Artists Spotlight, “Dream Paradise Odyssey” are personal and evocative chronicles of her multifaceted journey as a wife, mother, teacher, home maker and female artist. The two flags, founded on the Secret Vows series are evolutions, incorporating elements of Dreamscapes and centering on personal sources of inspiration and aspiration. Other works in “Dream Paradise Odessey” depict the fragmented cognitive space required by women playing multiple roles. In particular, the optimism, the hopes, the prayers. Jayani’s personal yearnings are starkly represented but her story, encapsulating of imagination, hope, devotion and heritage speak of the optimism and aspirations of young women globally.
