Theertha is an autonomous, artist-led non-profit initiative based in Colombo. It was established in 2000 to facilitate the local community of artists in innovation, and experimentation. The core objective of Theertha International Artists Collective is to explore the possibilities of exchanging ideas and knowledge across ethnic, regional and artistic borders, in the context of contemporary critical art practice in Sri Lanka. At present, it has undertaken number of projects that include publication, teacher training, international workshops / residencies, exhibitions, computer training, developing local art networks and sustaining regional and international connections.  Theertha's own art space 'Red Dot Gallery' that was established in 2007 has become the leading art gallery that show case experimental innovative art of progressive contemporary artists. Theertha, an ideologically based organization supports the art of the art movement that is popularly called 90s Trend which has strong critical and experimental tendencies.

Theertha is currently planning its next phase of development from 2012.

The primary funding for Theertha programs are received from:

Arts Collaboratory is a Hivos and DOEN Foundation program for visual artists’ initiatives in Asia, Africa and Latin America and for exchange with visual arts organizations in The Netherlands in cooperation with Mondriaan Foundation.

‘Sethusamudram’-the Art Project @ theertha (Sri Lanka) + No1 Shanthi Road (India).

Sethu Samudram, the art project that Theertha and No 1. Shathi Road has developed collectively is envisioning to engage with and address this highly complex and variegated history and emotions surrounding the concept of Sethu Samudram, a mythical bridge that existed between India and Sri Lanka and foreground the links, similarities, and shared anxieties, emotions and histories between the two geographical areas.  ‘Sethusamundram’, the mythical bridge is under physical threat with the scheduled construction of a real bridge linking Sri Lanka and South India on the same place where the ancient bridge supposed to have been and is drawing critical attention from various interest groups, mostly Indian, highlighting potential or imagined ecological,social, political, and cultural threats that might ensue from the building of this bridge. As mentioned earlier, this ancient bridge is a natural formation, which has thru millennia acquired mythical dimensions. The two countries, India and Sri Lanka, share more than just a geographical affinity; we have always been intertwined with history, mythology and a turbulent geopolitical situation. In the contemporary context the ‘cause of the Tamils’ and the violent political past trying to grapple with it has been a major factor that created many political, cultural and social issues. Throughout history the geographical, political and imagined boarders of two countries have been porous and therefore shrouded with suspicion and circumspection. This is also because of the close affinity India and Sri Lanka shares with regard to their historical connections, exchanges and experiences that in many ways reflected in the contemporary mediations in politics and culture in both countries.

The overall research area of the art project will cover a wide area of study that include society, politics, history, religion, mythology as relevant to Sri Lankan and India. The SETHU SAMUDURUM project would like to engage in the wider discussion of history navigating through the contemporary dynamics of art (involvement with, and discussion on ideological and methodological innovations of visual arts) within the region.

More information>>>

No. 1. Shanthi Road, Bangalore, India,

theertha International Artists Collective,
takes pleasure in inviting you to the preview of
Chandramani Thenuwara’s

 Woven Colour V: A Tribute to the Hand Weavers of Sri Lanka

at the Harold Pieris Gallery (Lionel Wendt Art Center),
18, Gilford Crescent, Colombo 7
on THURSDAY, 3rd  June 2010
at 6.30 PM
The exhibition will remain open until 6th June 2010
From 9.30 AM - 7.00 PM
Curated by
Nethra Samarawickrema and Jagath Weerasinghe

t heertha International Artists Collective

takes pleasure in inviting you to the preview of 

 

t heertha International Artists’ Residency Exhibition 2009
Highlighting new media and new technology art

Participating Artists:

Eline Jongsma (Netherlands), Kel O'Neill (USA), Kusal Gunasekara (Sri Lanka), Manoj Baviskar (India), Pradeep Thalawatta (Sri Lanka), Prasanna Ranabahu (Sri Lanka)

Sarawut Chutiwongpeti (Thailand)

on Saturday  27 th March 2010 at  6.30  PM

at   theertha Red Dot Gallery

 

The exhibition will remain open until  7th April 2010 

 

Gallery Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10.30 AM - 5.00 PM
Sundays 11.00 AM - 4.30 PM.
Closed on all public and mercantile holidays.

Sponsored by: Ford Foundation, Arts Collaboratory, Hivos and DOEN Foundation, 

and Mondriaan Foundation and the Theertha Red Dot Gallery.

Arts Collaboratory is a Hivos and DOEN Foundation program for visual artists' initiatives in Asia, Africa and Latin America and for exchange with visual arts organizations in The Netherlands in cooperation with Mondriaan Foundation.

 

THEERTHA PRADHARSHANA WASANTHAYA 2009

The curators for this season are Pradeep Chandrasiri and Prasanna Ranabahu. This year showcases art of Bandu Manamperi, Koralegedara Pushpakumara, Sarath Kuamarasiri and, under 'Freshly Baked' 3 more exhibitions will be held. Sponsored by: Arts Collaboratory, Hivos and DOEN Foundation, and Mondriaan Foundation.

t heertha International Artists Collective ,
takes pleasure in inviting you to the exhibition preview of 

Art of Inoka De Silva and Shamila Kumari

the final of the six exhibitions of
the " Theertha Pradarshana Wasanthaya - 2009 "
under the Freshly Baked Series.

at Theertha Red Dot Gallery

36 A, Baddegana Road South, Pitakotte
on  SATURDAY ,
20 th February 2010 at 6.30 pm
The exhibition will remain open til  4th  March  2010

Gallery Hours: Open daily from 10.30 AM to 5.00 PM

Closed on  27th & 28th February 2010

t heertha International Artists Collective ,
takes pleasure in inviting you to the exhibition preview of 

Art of Aruna Widanaarachchi

the 5th of the six exhibitions of
the " Theertha Pradarshana Wasanthaya - 2009 "
under the Freshly Baked Series.

at Theertha Red Dot Gallery

36 A, Baddegana Road South, Pitakotte
on  SATURDAY ,
06 th February 2010 at 6.30 pm
The exhibition will remain open til  18th  February  2010
Gallery Hours: Open daily from 10.30 AM to 5.00 PM

theertha International Artists Collective,
takes pleasure in inviting you to the exhibition preview of
Art of Saman Liyanage

the 4th of the six exhibitions of
the " Theertha Pradarshana Wasanthaya - 2009 "
under the Freshly Baked Series.

at Theertha Red Dot Gallery

36 A, Baddegana Road South, Pitakotte
on SATURDAY,
23 rd January 2010 at 6.30 pm
The exhibition will remain open til  3rd  February 2010

Gallery Hours: Open daily from 10.30 AM to 5.00 PM, Closed on 26th, 27th & 29th January 2010

    

   
Sarath Kumarasiri's Exhibition

'Temples Shrines'

The Third exhibition of
the "Theertha Pradarshana Wasanthaya" 2009 at Red Dot Gallery

Koralegedara Pushpakumara 's Exhibition

'Goodwill Hardware'

The Second exhibition of

the "Theertha Pradarshana Wasanthaya" 2009 at Red Dot Gallery

Bandu Manamperi's Exhibition

'Numbed'

The first exhibition of

the "Theertha Pradarshana Wasanthaya" 2009 at Red Dot Gallery

left to righ: Sasanka Perera giving an speech at the opening of 'Celestial Ferver' / invitee at the Red Dot Gallery/ Bandu Manamperi and G. R. Constantine in a performance with barrels

Left to right: Audience looking at work/ Knife installation/ invitees at the Red Dot Gallery garden

Celestial Fervor
Art of Jagath Weerasinghe

at theertha Red Dot Gallery
36 A, Baddegana Road South, Pitakotte

Exhibition dates: 8th September to 5th October, 2009.

Gallery hours: Monday to Wednesday 10.30 AM - 5.00 PM.
Sundays 11.00 AM - 4.30 PM.
Closed on all public and mercantile holidays.
The Celestial Fevor publication has 2 essays:
A prelude to an exhibition by the curator for the exhibition Anoli Perera and Reading the art of Jagath Weerasinghe by Qadri Ismail.
'Celestial Fervor: Art of Jagath Weerasinghe' is published under ArtLab series by Theertha Red Dot Gallery & Theertha International Artists Collective.The ‘Celestial Fervor’ publication and ‘Celestial Fervor’ exhibition are sponsored by Arts Collaboratory, Hivos and DOEN Foundation, and Mondriaan Foundation.

More on the exhibition..>>>

“Imagining Peace” Colombo Art Biennale 2009
The first in Colombo, Sri Lanka
10th-14th September 2009   ..>>>

You are cordially invited to the

Forum For Culture
presented by:
theertha International Artists Collective

a talk and discussion in Sinhala on

" Overview of contemporary visual art in Asia "

by Prof. Jagath Weerasinghe 

Will be held at
5.30 pm, on 30th July 2009,
Venue: Goethe Institut,
39, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7.

Theertha Artists' Exhibit at the National Art Gallery, Maldives

Guests at the preview of exhibition.

Left to right: Works by Pala Pothupitiry, Pradeep Thalawatta and Pradeep Chandrasiri displayed at the exhibition.

The exhibition ‘Theertha - Works on Paper’  opened at the National Art Gallery (NAG) on 16 July 2009. The exhibition will run until the 6th of August 2009.  Drawings and paintings done on paper by  Theertha artists, which include Jagath Weerasinge, Pradeep Chandrasiri, Thisath Thoradeniya, Janananda Laksiri, Anoli Perera, Lakisha Fernando, Pushpakumara Koralegedera, Lalith Manage, Pala Pothupitiya, Sarath Kumarasiri, Bandu Manamperi, Anura Krishantha and Pradeep Thalawatte presented a glimpse of contemporary Sri Lankan art to the Maldivian audience.  Most works engaging in a socio-cultural criticality are contemporary expressions of a trend that emerged in the 1990s  now popularly referred to as the 90s Art Trend.  The exhibition is a culmination of a long term dialog with National Art Gallery, Maldives and its Chief Curator Mamduh Waheed on possible art exchanges between Sri Lanka and Maldives.  Theertha has hosted Maldivian artists in their art residencies in the past where Mariam Omar and Fatimath Zuhura were able to work in collaboration with Sri Lankan and other international artists. In 2005 Theertha members Jagath Weerasinghe and Anoli Perera were invited to engage in a short survey of Maldivian art scene by NAG  to help develop the visual arts sector for the Maldives. Their curotorial survey  presented a  report titled  ‘Assessment of the Dynamics in the Community of Artists in the Maldives’, to the NAG.  More on the exhibition >>>

  An Exhibition of Art by Sybil Wettasinghe at Red Dot Gallery

t heertha International Artists Collective
takes pleasure in inviting you to the preview of

Art of Sybil Wettasinghe
on 25^th July 2009 at 6.30 PM

at t heertha Red Dot Gallery
36 A, Baddegana Road South, Pitakotte

The exhibition will remain open from 26^th July to 12^th   August 2009

Gallery hours: Monday to Wednesday 10.30 AM - 5.00 PM.
Sundays 11.00 AM - 4.30 PM.
Closed on all public and mercantile holidays.

Exhibition curation team - Anoli Perera, Pradeep Chandrasiri, Bandu Manamperi.
Research on the work and life of Sybil Wettasinghe conducted by - Nethra Samarawickrama.

Please click her to access the blogsite of  exhibition Sybil: Art of Sybil Wettasinghe>>>