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Theertha International Artists Collective
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.
Connecting South Asia...
Imagine South Asia Differently
The conference 'Space, Identity and Representation: Reading Culture in Context' is being organized the Colombo Institute as part of its ‘Connecting South Asia Project.’ The conference hopes to bring together number of well known scholars in humanities and art to engage in an indepth and intense exchange of knowledge produced on South Asia. As its co-partner, Theertha will organize and curate an exhibition on South Asian Art in Colombo to coincide with the conference, which will broadly reflect the conference theme where selected artists from South Asia Network for the Arts will be invited to participate. The exhibition will open with the start of the conference and will continue for one month. Conference will be held between 15 to 19th March 2011.
Theertha and Colombo Insitute partnership in the past has produced number of invaluable publications on art and culture in the local languages (Sinhala and Tamil) and in English. Under the Publication program of Theertha, Colombo Institute has put together 8 volumes of the Sinhala and Tamil cultural journals Patitha and Panuwal, 3 volumes of seminal Socio- Cultural texts in Sinhala and Tamil. In addition, more recently it has started publishing the South Asian Journal for Culture, an English langage journal that gives forum to indepth and researched essays on South Asian socio-cultural landscape. The forthcoming conference and exhibition hopes to further the attempts of the Colombo Institute and Theertha's intention to connect South Asia and strengthen its already emerging networks. Principal sponsor for the 'Connecting South Asia' conference project is Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development (the Netherlands).
For more information visit spacecolombo.blogspot.com/
‘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.
In Talaimannar, Sri Lanka
Image Gallery - "Sethusamudram" art project, Theertha (Sri Lanka) and No1.ShanthiRoad (India)
theertha International Artists’ Collective
takes pleasure in inviting you to the preview of
Theertha International Artists, New Media Residency 2011, exhibition
On Saturday, October 29 at 6:30pm at
Theertha Red Dot Gallery
36 A, Baddegana Road South
Pitakotte, Sri Lanka
The Exhibition will remain open till November 2, 2011
RSVP
Participating Artists:
Aaron Burton (Australia)
Anura Krishantha
Janananda Laksiri
Jesper Nordahl (Sweden)
Jeyathees Jeevaratnam
Gallery open from:
Sunday 11.00 am to 4.30 pm
Monday to Wednesday 10.30 am to 5.00 pm
Facebook event page here
theerthaiac@yahoo.com Website: www.theertha.org
theertha Pradarshana Wasanthaya
theertha International Artists Collective
takes pleasure in inviting you to the preview of
Janani Cooray’s Exhibition
‘Surgically Removed…….?’
on Saturday, 25th June 2011 at 6.30 pm
(performance will start 7.00 p.m)
at
theertha Red Dot Gallery
36 A, Baddegana Road South, Pitakotte.
The Exhibition will remain open until 09th July 2011
Gallery hours:
Monday to Friday: 10.30 am to 5.00 pm
Sunday: 11.00 am to 4.30 pm
theertha Exhibition Season
Freshly Baked Series
theertha International Artists Collective
takes pleasure in inviting you to the preview of
S.Vijayalajans & M.Manokar's Exhibition
on Saturday, 28th May 2011 at 6.30 pm at
theertha Red Dot Gallery 36 A, Baddegana Road South, Pitakotte.
The Exhibition will remain open until 18th June 2011
Gallery hours: Monday to Friday: 10.30 am to 5.00 pm Sunday: 11.00 am to 4.30 pm
Tele : 0112 865 900 Email:
Theertha Pradarshana Wasanthaya
theertha International Artists’ Collective,
takes pleasure in inviting you to the preview of
Janananda Laksiri's exhibition
‘Sreaming Elergy’
For more information Janananda Laksiri
nine artists
Women Artists' Colloquium Exhibition 2010/11 'nine artists' is published by Theertha International Artists' Collective and Theertha Red Dot Gallery. The exhibition is organized by the Women Artists' Program of Theertha as part of the Women Artists' Colloquium to support art practices of women artistd.
More on the exhibition
theertha International Artists’ Collective, takes pleasure in inviting you to the preview of ‘Imagining Aftermath’
by G.R. Constantine curated by Anoli PereraThe first of the eight exhibitions of the "Theertha Pradarshana Wasanthaya - 2011" at theertha Red Dot Gallery
for more information>>>
Sethu Residency 1 @ Theertha 2010
theertha International Artists Workshop 2010
TIAW 2010 will be held from 13th to 25th September 2010 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. There will be 18 Sri Lankan and international artists participating in the workshop this year.