Corona with the Big Brothers

It is increasingly evident that the lasting impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic will not be merely health related. In the early stages of government efforts to contain the virus and over the last few months, Sri Lanka has witnessed worrying trends in the country’s political and human rights landscape. There have been restrictions not only on movement but on freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and the space for dissent and activism is quickly shrinking.

There have been continued reports of arbitrary arrests, forcible detention and discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities as well as restrictions on movement and the right to assemble without any legal framework, purely carried out under the guise of quarantine law.

It has been the average citizen who has been reprimanded for failing to follow guidelines or for what authorities may arbitrarily consider unlawful behaviour while no action has been taken against those in positions of power who have openly violated government regulations.

Vikalpa, collaborating with graphic designer Sanjaya Ekneligoda, presents a concise visual interpretation of the prevailing socio-political context in which recorded and unrecorded memories have been displaced and reduced to dust through space and time, ultimately buried in the name of “a proud history”. This is the first of a series of such visual artworks that will be published by Vikalpa.

Scroll down to read the meaning behind each visual element

Clouds

The imagery within the framework suggests that the dark events of our history are shrouded in clouds and that we, as a society, disregard that history, consciously and unconsciously moving away from it. But if we look closely, those memories can be recalled.

The Dhandumonara on War Tank Wheels

(The image of the peacock is referred to as 'Dhandumonara' an aircraft used by the Mythical king Ravana)

The barrage of tank wheels reflects the notion that kings were created by a dual ideology. When observing those in chains dragging the tank in contrast to those in front of the procession, it is clear that the former are subordinates.

The Figures on the Dhandumonara

The four men (big brothers) on the Dhandumonara reveal the kind of people that we have crowned with glory.

The Line of Vehicles Behind the Dhandumonara

The line of vehicles behind the Dhandumonara symbolises the section of society that benefits from this ideology or flawed social vision and majority bias.

Background

The background reflects various aspects of today’s social context including the Coronavirus pandemic. Working in the background that, too, works to the advantage of the system.

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Appreciate