Women in Barrelistic Era

ArtistChandraguptha Thenuwara
Year1998
Mediumacrylic on plywood, 3 barrels
Dimentions119×186×-
CountrySri Lanka
Year of acquisition1999
Collection no.1284
ExplanationThe artist is from Galle, southern Sri Lanka. Originally drums such as the ones in this piece were containers for tar, used in the construction of roads that connect people. In 1983, a civil war broke out and those in positions of power used oil drums painted in camouflage to construct barricades in front of public buildings throughout urban areas. In this piece the artist uses the drum not as a barricade representing war, but to express an anti-war message. As shown by these four women, the civil war that claimed the lives of over 60,000 people caused many Sri Lankans deep sorrow, fear and anxiety for the future of their children.

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