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.
$100.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper.
16x12"
"Lush Serenade" depicts connection, movement, and the harmonious interplay between nature and the human form. Adorned with flowery elements, the intertwining figures evoke a sense of exuberance and freedom. This artwork is a celebration of joy, lushness, and the whimsical aspects of existence.
$100.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper.
20x16"
"Floating Empress" explores the intricate nature of identity, vulnerability, power, and the enigmatic nature of existence. The figure, an embodiment of fragmented identities, is suspended in dreamlike detachment while gazing into the oblivion looking for meaning in an ambiguous world. Her body , marked by vulnerability and strength , floats in fragile dignity as she carries the weight of diverse cultural and personal experiences
$100.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper (framed).
12x16"
‘I am My Hair’ - explores themes of identity through the haunting visage of a brown woman whose face is a canvas of introspection. This piece delves into the complexities of cultural identity, race, femininity, and self-image. The juxtaposition of the woman's questful expression with the unsettling imagery of long-nailed fingers of paler hue , reminiscent of both hair and a crown of thorns, suggests the layers of identities that we embody—embraced or restrained, consciously or unconsciously.
$100.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper (framed).
12x16"
"Fragmented Ballet " is a mixed media surreal abstraction that whimsically delves into the realms of perception and expression, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between form and emotion.
$100.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper (framed).
16x12"
Love is One! and our desires are multicolored!
$100.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper (framed).
16x12"
Sanctuary is a mixed-media piece that combines drawing and collage and explores the themes of sanctity, nature, and the sacredness of life. The central figure is in serene contemplation gazing intently at a large , radiant and mysterious golden egg. The figure's hair, a rich blend of brown and gold hues, is intricately woven with bird nests and birds. These element suggest the symbiotic relationship between humanity and nature, highlighting how life flourishes and finds sanctuary in the most unexpected places
$250.00
Ink, pan pastel, collage on paper (framed).
16x12"
“Faraway" is a mixed media abstraction where enigmatic masks dance amidst a swirling array of colors and sparkling sprinkles, evoking the essence of a distant and enchanting land. This piece invites viewers to immerse themselves in the dream and journey to wonder.
$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.