Anoma Wijewardene, first Sri Lankan solo artist to show during ‘Olympics’ of art: Venice Biennale

Contributing a powerful conversation from Sri Lanka on the need for harmony and healing, Anoma’s multisensory installation ‘Kintsugi’ on diversity and coexistence is showing from May to November at the European Cultural Centre, Palazzo Bembo, Canale Grande during the 58th Venice Biennale.

Focusing on the need for unity in diversity in our highly polarised world, Anoma Wijewardene showcases her ‘Kintsugi’ installation at the European Cultural Centre’s Personal Structures: Identities – a collateral exhibition of the iconic Venice Biennale. Incorporating the poetry of Romesh Gunesekera, the music of Sharon Smith and the scent of Cinnamon, the work is an appeal to hearts and minds, through all the senses as well as the intellect.

Along with the curators of the exhibition the thousands of viewers frequenting the biennale will find this message of embracing differences and the beauty of reconstruction to be incredibly meaningful; especially coming from a Sri Lanka fresh from the aftermath of the Easter tragedy. Anoma Wijewardene gave an interview, discussing how she hoped the installation would present a positive and healing outlook from Sri Lanka in the face of the current disharmony, and misguided religious fervour; and what it means to be showing her work at the art world’s most coveted global platform. Following are excerpts:

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