Interviewed and Written by Minadi Gunawardena
Anoma is one of Sri Lanka's most celebrated contemporary artists. Her work has been exhibited in countless prestigious international spaces such as Sotheby's in Hong Kong and at the 58th Venice Biennale. She was the first ever Sri Lankan solo artist to show at Venice Biennale. Shown in London, New Delhi, Dubai, and Singapore to name a few, Anoma’s work has consistently been celebrated across the globe for the last twenty five years.
One of her major works includes her monograph titled ‘ANOMA’ with over two hundred illustrations encompassing her profound love for a sustainable environment and harmony, diversity and unity; the core themes of her art. Launched in 2019, the book in her own words, was ‘a marathon of eight years’ to complete, focusing on her art, exhibitions, and her particular creative process. “It was a huge, humongous amount of work. And I’m really thankful that it is done.” She explains that the book comprises of a variety of perspectives of her approaches to art, which in doing so tells the story of her life through her work.
Raised in Sri Lanka, Anoma was schooled at Ladies’ College. She paints herself as an outgoing, confident, and lively child who later transitioned into a complex adolescent, often a mystery to her peers. She draws attention to the difficulties faced by young women in Sri Lanka in discovering themselves as individuals. “Even if you are conventional, even if you aren’t. I didn’t think I was being unconventional, I was just being my natural self. But I guess I was different and I couldn’t change myself to fit in so the whole social context was a challenge.”
