SEDR’s Arts for Alternative Dispute Resolution (Arts4ADR) programme is now in full swing, with the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) Sri Lanka having launched the much-anticipated Total Landscaping exhibition on 12 September 2024. In partnership with SEDR, this exhibition seeks to harness the power of artistic expression to facilitate dialogue about the root causes of community level disputes —including those related to land. |
Through the works of 29 contemporary artists, Total Landscaping offers unique perspectives on how land has been both a transformative force and a canvas for transformation in Sri Lanka. Among these, SEDR has commissioned three distinct artworks that specifically explore the different ways land has shaped Sri Lanka's history, while also reflecting on the social, political, and cultural relationships that, in turn, have influenced the land itself. |
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On 10 October 2024, a specially curated tour of the exhibition was held for members of the international community and organisations within the cultural and development sectors. The event was attended by distinguished guests including Dr. Johann Hesse, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, H.E. Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, H.E. Iwan Rutjens, Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka & Maldives, Orlando Edwards, Country Director of the British Council Sri Lanka, and Jacques Carstens, Team Leader of the SEDR Project. |
Curated by Sandev Handy and Thinal Sajeewa from MMCA, Rotation 1 of Total Landscaping delves into the complex relationships between land and its people, offering visitors a profound reflection on how communal conflicts have shaped, and been shaped by, the land. The exhibition is open for public viewing until 1 December 2024 and promises to inspire further dialogue and reflection on the intersection of land, conflict, and culture in Sri Lanka. |
For more information on the exhibition and the work being done through the Art4ADR programme, visit the MMCA website or plan a visit to the museum, located at Crescat, Colombo 3, before the exhibition concludes. |
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