Opening Day | Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka
Schedule
Sat Nov 27 2021 at 10:00 am to 05:00 pm
Location
Phoenix Art Museum | Phoenix, AZ
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With more than 50 objects spanning 1,000 years, Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka provides an unparalleled opportunity for U.S. audiences to experience a selection of rare and outstanding Sri Lankan artworks, many of which have never been publicly exhibited. Viewers will discover the influence of Buddhist and European traditions on the nation’s art history, while gaining particular insight into bronze-casting techniques through small, technically refined sculptures and bronze pieces that weigh more than 50 lbs. Featured works date to as early as the sixth century. The majority, however, span the 16th and 19th centuries, the height of the nation’s colonial period when the island was colonized first by the Portuguese, then by the Dutch, and finally by the British. Collectively, this wide range of works offers deep insight into pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial life on the island.Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka will also feature original black-and-white photographs by Quintus Fernando, PhD, who passed away in 2004. These photographs were only discovered within the past decade and were likely taken just prior to the Fernando family’s emigration. This exhibition represents the first time these works will be exhibited to the public. Capturing images of not just Buddhist ruins and other iconic locations, the photographs depict simple, everyday slices of life in mid-20th century Sri Lanka, including scenes of fishermen, village women gathering water, and other moments of rural activity. These photographs, featured alongside works of historical significance, document the transition of a nation and a people exploring the potential of hard-earned independence.
Learn more at bit.ly/LegacyofCeylon.
Artwork: Unknown, Altar niche (Nicho de altar), not dated. Wood and pigment. Gift of Barry Fernando MD and Coleene Fernando MD. Photo by Ken Howie.
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Where is it happening?
Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
