Anupa Khemadasa
Anupa Khemadasa is a Sri Lankan - Canadian interdisciplinary artist inspired by both Sri Lankan and Western creative traditions, whose practice spans visual arts, community engagement, music performance and cybernetics. Socio-cultural issues and personal histories are at the core of her artistic practice. She has performed, exhibited and produced work in Asia, Europe, Canada and the US, including as a touring musician with the Phoolan Devi Opera project and as Musical Director for the award-winning Sri Lankan film ‘Thanha, Rathi, Ranga’. She co-founded the musical ensemble Tangled, and arts collective ‘ Warm Up To Me ’. She has also created participatory audio-visual installations for Toronto’s Nuit Blanche Festival in 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023 . Anupa was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and currently resides in Toronto, Canada.
Anupa Khemadasa is a Sri Lankan - Canadian interdisciplinary artist inspired by both Sri Lankan and Western creative traditions, whose practice spans visual arts, community engagement, music performance and cybernetics. Socio-cultural issues and personal histories are at the core of her artistic practice. She has performed, exhibited and produced work in Asia, Europe, Canada and the US, including as a touring musician with the Phoolan Devi Opera project and as Musical Director for the award-winning Sri Lankan film ‘Thanha, Rathi, Ranga’. She co-founded the musical ensemble Tangled, and arts collective ‘ Warm Up To Me ’. She has also created participatory audio-visual installations for Toronto’s Nuit Blanche Festival in 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023 . Anupa was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and currently resides in Toronto, Canada.
$250.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper (framed).
16x12"
In ‘Last Temptations’ , I explore the intricate dynamics of human emotions and relationships through juxtaposing contrasting expressions and symbolic elements. Two faces interlock, in dreamy intensity set against the menacing presence of the snakes and intertwining flowers. Through this artwork, I aim to capture the complexity and volatility of human relationships, where desire and vulnerability intertwine
$600.00
Acrylic on canvas.
16x12"
“Beginnings” explores the beauty and calamity of change. Each element of the painting captures this duality. The blue background is a rough and motive sea - disturbed into darker blues by the creatures that move through it. Yet that same blue is the calm colour of space and freedom. Abstracted figures dominate the scene: flying dragons, eagles preying on snakes, but also quieter creatures - mollusks and amoeba - hints at the potential of evolution. Both the eagle and the dragon are nascent . Who knows what they could become?
At first glance, the colours are joyfully vibrant, but they also tell of struggle. In the warm colours, there is the burning of birth, claret blood diffusing through water. These liquids - rich with salt and pain are the beginnings and the substances of life. There are also the pinker colours of sunrise, the juices of ripe fruit, the green of lush, underwater grasses.
The texture of the work reveals the process of its creation. There are visible layers of acrylic, imperfectly smoothed, brush strokes around smaller details and thick, poured paint that has dried into islands of tangible texture.
Change is abstraction. Transformation resists being captured in a clearly interpretable image. But if we do hold it still for a moment, in all its weirdness, we see all the wonders and terrors it has to offer.
$600.00
Acrylic on board.
12x16"
Inspired by the historic milestone of the moon landing in 1969, ‘Take Me To The Moon’ embodies a reflection on the enduring significance of human achievement amidst the passage of time. Against a backdrop of bananas, whimsically chosen for their lunar hue, my painting depicts a half-human, half-animal figure with golden hair and banana breasts soaring forward. The figure is illuminated by the radiant smile of the sun, symbolizing the triumph of human endeavor. Below, two golden fish gaze in awe, while a roaring beast lurks ominously, representing the duality of human nature.
Through this composition, I sought to capture the essence of magic, fire, and power, juxtaposed with the inherent complexities and fears of the human psyche. By blending elements of fantasy and reality, my work invites viewers to contemplate the multifaceted nature of human achievement and the perpetual quest for greatness amidst the unknown.
$500.00
Acrylic on canvas (framed).
16x20"
This painting is an antidote to darkness and a reminder of the loves we keep.
It celebrates the ways we are drawn to each other because of our differences.
all dancing over the limitless space of the black background. The colourful elements evoke the joyful heat of movement and closeness which the human figures embody.
$250.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper (framed).
16x12"
Third eye is Inspired by the iconic image of the Hansaputtuwa from Sri Lankan traditional drawings . While the traditional depiction portrays two swans locked in an embrace, ‘Third Eye’ diverges from this narrative to present a visual dialogue between human and the avian Rendered in a soothing blue hue, the artwork exudes a sense of tranquility and serenity, inviting viewers into a contemplative space. Delicate accents of golden beadwork punctuate the composition,
$250.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper (framed).
16x12"
In ‘Embrace’ I explore intimacy, connection, and the natural world through the evocative imagery of two female bodies entwined in a close embrace against a backdrop of rich brown hues, reminiscent of earth and wood. The figures merge seamlessly, their bodies blending into one another as if becoming part of nature itself. A collage of mushroomy gills adorn the hair of the figures, their organic, fungal elements adding a surreal dimension to the artwork like the mycelium network that runs beneath the forest floor, connecting trees and plants in a hidden web of mutual support. At its core, the artwork embodies a sense of love, intimacy, and girlhood, intertwined with warmth and a subtle undercurrent of melancholy
$200.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper (framed).
16x12"
Ingolden abyss, I delve into the surreal depths of the subconscious, exploring themes of transformation, beauty, and the uncanny. At the heart of the composition is a fish-human, swimming among otherworldly flora. Amidst this surreal seascape, eerie angelic faces emerge sporadically. These ethereal visages, with their haunting gazes and enigmatic expressions, invite viewers to ponder the intersection of the divine and the grotesque, the sublime and the uncanny
$600.00
Acrylic on canvas.
16x20"
‘One Love’ is from a series of paintings that I am currently working on titled ‘The Pageant’ that is inspired by Sri Lankan traditional paintings. The traditional paintings often come with beautiful floral patterns, showing elephants carrying nobility. The original paintings decorated the walls of ancient palaces and Buddhist temples of Sri Lanka and their replicas often decorate the walls of Sri Lankan households today. In The Pageant series I recreate the traditional paintings with narratives that have often been eliminated from discourse , weaving feminist and queer positions and colonial heritage into them in ways that question conventional identities and perceptions
$250.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper (framed).
12x16"
‘ Gaze’ unravels an intricate dance of dualities. A golden-hued human visage merges seamlessly into the serpent , creating a surreal collage. This amalgamation signifies the union of primal instincts and human consciousness. Embodying the mystical, this artwork speaks of ancient symbology and the timeless interconnection between man and nature .
$250.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper (framed).
16x12"
An ethereal observer gazes at the dissected avian form. Enclosed within an emerald embrace of lush leaves, the setting invites introspection and mystic contemplation. Through the surreal union of disparate entities, '”Dual Realms” invites the viewer to explore the arcane and the unknown and contemplate on the visual dialogue between visible and hidden realms.
$250.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper (framed).
16x12"
In "Harlem," I explore the intersection of vibrant colors and whimsical imagery to evoke a sense of nostalgia and sensory pleasure. While the bold red, blue, shocking pink, and yellow spray paint background sets the stage for a playful composition, at the center of the piece, a floating mouth licking a popsicle emerges, creating a juxtaposition between innocence and indulgence.
The popsicle becomes a symbol of simple pleasures , while the floating mouth adds an element of surrealism and whimsy to the composition.
Harlem was inspired by my visit to the iconic neighborhood. It pays homage to its rich history of resilience and cultural vibrancy. Despite the tragic events that have unfolded in Harlem's past, it stands as a testament to the strength and resilience of its community. Through vibrant colors and symbolic imagery, I want to celebrate and show my love to the greatness that has emerged from Harlem, honoring its legacy and the indomitable spirit of its people.