‘The Foreigners’

4 May 202322 October 2023

Screenshot 2023-04-27 at 10.00.53 AM

The term ‘foreigner’ is commonly used to describe someone from another country. Can a foreigner, however, just as easily be someone who inhabits another identity, speaks another language, or is from another community? Moreover, can a foreigner be someone who straddles multiple identities, languages, and communities without neatly belonging to one?

‘The Foreigners’ brings together the works of 15 contemporary artists, who use varying media to address the entangled ways in which foreignness is inscribed onto them, marking them as strangers, outsiders, or transgressors. Together their works resist, reimagine, and re-mix well-worn tropes of how otherness is categorised and foreignness is perceived.

Arjuna Gunaratne
Danushka Marasinghe
Dinelka Liyanage
Hema Shironi
Hania Luthufi
Imaad Majeed
Isuru Kumarasinghe
Janani Cooray
K K Srinath Chathuranga
Nina Mangalanayagam
Reginald S. Aloysius
S.H. Sarath
Shyama Golden
Stephen Champion
Sumudi Suraweera

‘The Foreigners’ is curated by Sandev Handy and Sharmini Pereira

Exhibition Design by Jonathan Edward

Production by Malshani Delgahapitiya

Editorial by Kaumadi Jayaweera

Translations by Kaumadi Alawathugoda, Shiyalni Janarthanan, Phusathi Liyanaarachchi, Miriam Naveendran, Ravihari Ravendrakumar, and Saambavi Sivaji

Education and Public Programmes by Pramodha Weerasekera

We would like to thank all the artists, lenders, funders,
and our Founding Patrons for their generous support
in making this exhibition possible.

Additional thanks and gratitude to:

Afzal Farook
Ananda Amarasiri
Anoja Seneviratne
Bilesha Fernando
Crescat Management, Security, and Maintenance
Emile Molin
Heshani Karunanayake
Jonathan Edward
Joyce Adams So
Kalpa Munasinghe
Kishan Perera
Lalindra Amarasekara
Madhavi Gore
Mohamed Zarook
Nalliney Thangavelu
Nikhil Chopra
Nilshan Fernando
Niroshi Jayasekera
Priyantha Udagedara
Rasika Silva
Rohit Gupta
Sandeep Gopal
Sanjay Kulatunga
Saskia Fernando
Shanila Alles
Thavisha Wickramatunga
Thushara Perera
Tushma Perera

‘The Foreigners’ exhibition is generously supported by

Anojie Amerasinghe and Hugues Marchand
Radhika Chopra and Rajan Anandan

European Union

Additional support provided by

British Council Sri Lanka

Major Benefactors and Funders of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka

John Keells Foundation
Nations Trust Bank
Fairfirst Insurance

Radio Partner

Lite FM

Founding Patrons 2023-2024

Shivanthi Atukorale and Ravin Basnayake
Sharmila and Akram Cassim
Samantha de Silva
Suresh Dominic
Abbas and Alnaas Esufally
Malik Fernando
Roshni and Sheran Fernando
Ajit and Chandani Gunewardene
Leena Hirdaramani
Anula Kusum Jayasuriya, David Gilmour, and Shani Sarkis
Kumar and Ranmali Mirchandani
Angeline Ondaatjie
Mohan Tissanayagam
Amitha, Arshia, and Shasthi Silva

Related Programs

Online

#SupportLocalArt Talk

The Power of Diplomacy

Learn More

#SupportLocalArt Talk

The Power of Humour

Learn More

#SupportLocalArt Talk

The Power of Community

Learn More

Gallery Talk

Ismeth Raheem

Learn More

Onsite

Book Reading

‘Kaputu Kaak Kaak Kaak!’ with Stages Theatre Group (for ages 8–15)

Learn More

Gallery Talk

‘On being Women, Muslim, and the Other’ with Hasanah Cegu Isadeen and Zainab Ibrahim

Learn More

Curator’s Tour

with Sandev Handy

Learn More

Workshop

‘Literary Translation’ with Saambavi Sivaji (for ages 16 and above)

Learn More

For Kids

Puzzle Day

(all ages)

Learn More

Workshop

‘Hello Again’ with Seema Omar and Shivani Jobanputra (for children aged 12–16 and their parents)

Learn More

Workshop

‘The Story of the Osariya’ with Tikiri and Co (for ages 8–13)

Learn More

Puzzle Day

(all ages)

Learn More

For Educators

Workshop

‘Literary Translation’ with Saambavi Sivaji (for ages 16 and above)

Learn More

Workshop

‘Zinemaking and Art Journaling’ with Zainab Hudha (for ages 16 and above)

Learn More

Workshop

‘My Safe Haven’ with Aadhi Jayaseelan (for ages 16 and above)

Learn More

Workshop

‘Sewing and Embroidery’ with Hema Shironi, Sabeen Omar, and Shahdia Jamaldeen (for ages 16 and above)

Learn More

Upcoming Programmes

June 25

Exhibition Tour

Learn More

June 24

Book Reading

‘Kaputu Kaak Kaak Kaak!’ with Stages Theatre Group (for ages 8–15)

Learn More

June 23

Gallery Talk

‘On being Women, Muslim, and the Other’ with Hasanah Cegu Isadeen and Zainab Ibrahim

Learn More

Support Us

Support us to create Sri Lanka’s first publicly accessible museum of modern and contemporary art.

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka invites you to get involved through becoming a member or making a donation to our activities. Join Us

Join Us