How They Forgot To Remember

Paradise Road Galleries is holding an exhibition by artist Mahen Perera titled ‘How They Forgot To Remember’. The exhibition opens on Tuesday 6 December from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. and will be on until Wednesday 4 January 2017 at Paradise Road Galleries. Following are excerpts of an interview with Perera:

Q: What is your inspiration behind ‘How They Forgot To Remember’? 

A: There was no specific inspiration that provoked me to do this collection, as my work evolves in a more organic way where things fall into place in a spontaneous and an unexpected way. My process is informed by observation and research that leads me to question and explore unforeseen ways of engaging with materials. I would say my interest has been to locate spaces that provoke inklings of ones deep-seated emotions that are elusively materialised as residual narratives.

Q: What is your strongest influence that drives you as an artist?

A: To be self-reflective and to understand how dialogues are created by absorbing the diversity of encounters that one experiences with certain places and people and how they refresh narratives and sensibilities of one’s cognitive premise.

Q: If you had the opportunity to change something about the art scene in Sri Lanka, what would it be?

A: To get the general public more involved in art events and also have international artists, theorists, curators and art critics engaged in the general art education system.

Q: What is your advice to young and aspiring artists of today?

A: Just be yourself, believe in what you do, know who you are and where you come from.