Risanga Abeygunasekara
Risanga Abeygunasekara
Risanga is an activist from Sri Lanka. He is passionate about reducing inequalities and creating more inclusive communities in Sri Lanka. For his Rise project k-pables, he created a simple but extensive program to increase awareness about disability with practical activities, engagement, and observation within the community. He was a Rise Finalist in 2021 and founded the Jessy Foundation with the aim of helping disabled youth and underprivileged students in Sri Lanka. His future goal is to reduce unemployment among disabled youth by creating a platform for Batik products created by them. Abeygunasekara is a student and an activist. He is passionate about reducing inequalities and creating more inclusive communities in Sri Lanka. He was a Rise Finalist in 2021 and founded the Jessy Foundation with the aim of helping disabled youth and underprivileged students in Sri Lanka.
Entangled Threads: Seeds of Change
This artwork is informed by Risanga’s efforts to create accessible educational pathways and more inclusive communities. Risanga has made incredible efforts to bring awareness to disability within Kandy, Sri Lanka and South Asia more broadly. For this exhibition Risanga facilitated a collaborative partnership with the Wattegama Vocational Training Institute (VTI) in Kandy. Risanga created this bespoke design to represent his belief in community and equity. Whilst all the students have a form of disability, Risanga stresses that this should not be a reason to undervalue their skill and potential.
Tapestry: Batik
Nicola Green has created a bespoke pattern that showcases the thirteen talented students from the VTI. Their designs are inspired by the imagery and vibrant colours of traditional Sri Lanka artworks, such as the Sigiriya Frescoes. Nicola Green hopes to continue to collaborate with Risanga and his future endeavours with the VTI. Risanga’s thoughts on colonial legacy echoes through this display and his activism. Sri Lanka was subjected to over 400 years of colonial rule and still faces the repercussions of this today. But Risanga maintains “you have the past, but you don’t have anything to do with it. So what I want to think about is the present and think about the future.” Risanga intends to use his ever-growing Rhodes network to establish change at a larger scale, he hopes this exhibition can springboard a larger project to provide employment opportunities to people in Sri Lanka through batik.
With extra special thanks to the talented artists from the Wattegama Vocational Training Center in Kandy, Sri Lanka: Sadun Tharaka Pathirana, Kalindu Ravisara, Dilan Harsha, Shanika Abeysiri, Lohitha Jayathilake, Parami Maheesha Karunarathne, Duleeka Anjali Weerasekara, Hiruni Nisansala, Nethmi Sewwandi, Pavani Malsha Rajarathne, Ishani Umayangana, Nirasha Sanjeewani Ananda and D. S. K. Jayasinghe
Sadun’s Story
