THE SURREAL BODY

RAJNI PERERA

THE SURREAL BODY

RAJNI PERERA

22.12.16 - 20.01.17

In this new body of work, identity politics and the ongoing interest in the embellished photography medium make way for the coloured body to inhabit surreal space. While costume and background remain in the picture as a mode of identity-making, or identity supplanting, there also emerges a new space where the occult and divine are investigated as well, blurring direct representation with a representation of the subjects in parallel dimensions. Becoming animals, waves, deities or monsters, these new beings carry a mythology of their own and thereby negate or disrupt the mythologies handed to them.

Rajni Perera2016

Swimmer, 2016, Mixed Media on Inkjet Print, 83.5x56cm

Aneela, 2016, Mixed Media on Inkjet Print, 87x61cm

A Scavenger First, 2016, Mixed Media on Inkjet Print, 91x61cm

Aftab2, 2016, Mixed Media on Inkjet Print, 75.5x51cm

Nate, 2016, Mixed Media on Inkjet Print, 108x59.5cm

Jess, 2016, Mixed Media on Inkjet Print, 63.5x99cm

The Key and The Knife Are The Same, 2016, Mixed Media on Inkjet Print, 26x19cm

RAJNI PERERA b.1985

Education

2011 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, Canada

Solo Exhibitions

2015 The Embellished Lens | Saskia Fernando Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka2015 Afrika Galaktika | Videofag, Toronto, Canada2014 Afrika Galaktika | Art League Houston, Houston, Texas, USA2013 Illuminated Mythologies | Mark Christopher Gallery, Toronto, Canada2012 Art With Heart | National Auction by Casey House Toronto, Toronto, Canada2011 You Worship Us | Katzman Kamen Gallery, Toronto, Canada2011 The New Archeology/The New Ethnography | Gallery 129 on Ossington, Toronto, Canada

Group Exhibitions

2016 Colombo Art Biennale: Conceiving Space | Colombo, Sri Lanka2016 SCOPE Basel: The Public House of Art | Amsterdam, Netherland2016 FUTURE 33 | YTB Gallery, Toronto, Canada2016 Disambiguation, curated by Saskia Fernando | Art Dubai 2016, U.A.E2014 Object Manipulating Economy/Economy Manipulating Object | August Fröhls, Monchengladbach, Germany2014 ARTATTACK | Auction in Support of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, Canada2014 Third Culture | OCADU Student Gallery, Toronto, Canada2014 FUTURESCAPE | OCADU Student Gallery (Curatorial), Toronto, Canada2014 Protect Ya Neck | Moniker Gallery, Toronto, Canada2013 Trust No Kin | Hermann & Audrey Gallery, Toronto, Canada2013 With Pleasure | HUNTCLUB, Toronto, Canada2012 Margin of Errors | Gladstone Gallery, Toronto, Canada2012 Art of Undercurrrent | Gladstone Art Bar, Toronto, Canada2012 WeThe Ppl Trunk Show | Bombay Electric, Mumbai, India

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