Bandu Manamperi , an artist whose work transcends traditional boundaries to explore themes of identity, conflict, and the complexities of human nature, has made a significant mark on the global art scene. His multifaceted approach to art, which incorporates performances, drawings, and installations, challenges viewers to confront their perceptions and engage in a deeper dialogue with the subject matter. Drawing from his own experiences and cultural heritage, Manamperi's pieces offer a poignant reflection on the societal and personal impacts of political turmoil. As a founding member and Vice Chairman of Theertha International Artists' Collective in Sri Lanka, he has been pivotal in promoting contemporary art and fostering a community for artists to collaborate and express themselves freely. His art serves not only as a mirror reflecting societal issues but also as a bridge connecting diverse audiences through the universal language of creativity and emotion. As an acclaimed figure in contemporary art, Bandu Manamperi continues to inspire and provoke thought, cementing his place as a visionary artist whose work resonates across cultures and generations.
Artist CV
Education
Certificate Course in Conservation of Cultural Property (murals & paintings)
M. A. in Archeology Post Graduate Institute of Archeology, University of Kelaniya. Sri Lanka.
Post Graduate Diploma in Archeology (Merit). Post Graduate Institute of Archeology, University of Kelaniya. Sri Lanka
Bachelor of Fine Arts. BFA (Sculpture), Institute of Aesthetic Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Exhibitions
'The Smell': the 4th edition of Theertha Performance Platform 2022, Theertha Red Dot Gallery, Sri Lanka.
'The Black History': Internation Print Exhibition: Hosted by printmaking Gallery
Iran-India 2020, “Performance Art Project; Asia”, Rah art residence, in partnership with hexxy duxxy box, via zoom app.
'A Theertha interim show.' Theertha Red Dot Gallery, Borella, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
'A Theertha interim show.' Theertha Red Dot Gallery, Borella, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
'OBLAK Performances, Objects & Vulnerability, via zoom app, online, performed at Borella Junction.
'Texting Being', Theertha performance platform-2019, at Theertha, Borella, Sri Lanka.
'A cross section', group art exhibition of Sri Lankan artists, Jaleh Gallery, Tehran, Iran 2019
Contemporary Sri Lankan Art: A Cross-Section, The Iranian Cultural Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka 2019
'Texting Being', Theertha performance platform-2019, at Theertha, Borella, Sri Lanka.
'A TALE OF TWO CITIES | INDIA AND SRI LANKA', Theertha Red Dot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
ART CONNECT, Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
'Texting Being', Theertha performance platform-2019, at Theertha, Borella, Sri Lanka.
'Portraits of Intervention: Contemporary Art from Sri Lanka' Aicon Gallery, New York.
'Life and Time-The Changing Landscape' Organized by Chander Haat at the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, India.
Theertha Performance Platform, Theertha Red Dot Gallery, Borella, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
'A TALE OF TWO CITIES | INDIA AND SRI LANKA' Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA), Delhi, India.
'A TALE OF TWO CITIES | INDIA AND SRI LANKA' Serendipity Arts Festival, Adil Shah Palace, Goa, India.
'Texting Being', Theertha performance platform-2019, at Theertha, Borella, Sri Lanka.
'Washing Man'Performance, OPEN 6, Open Studio Residency, The Heritage Hotel: Art Spaces, Goa, India.
'Washing Man'Performance, OPEN 6, Open Studio Residency, The Heritage Hotel: Art Spaces, Goa, India.
'Washing Man'Performance, OPEN 6, Open Studio Residency, The Heritage Hotel: Art Spaces, Goa, India.
'Washing Man'Performance, OPEN 6, Open Studio Residency, The Heritage Hotel: Art Spaces, Goa, India.
'Iron Man'Performance, India Art Fair, New Delhi, India
'Dead Fish' Performance, Theertha Performance Platform 1st Edition, Sri Lanka
'Me and My Image' Performance with Godwin Constantine, Curated by Anna Wagner,' Transforming Bodies' Colombo Dance Platform 2014
Serendipity Revealed: an exhibition of contemporary Sri Lankan art,Brunei Gallery, SOAS , London, United Kingdom
'Beware Wet Ink' Digital Art Exhibition, Lionel Wendt Gallery.
Dhaka Art Summit, Dhaka, Bangladesh
'Making History' Colombo Art Biennale, Curated by Amit Jain
“Golden Barrel Man” (2nd performance), WAR & PEACE – Visual Narratives from contemporary Sri Lanka, Harold Pieris Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Becoming, 2nd Colombo Art Bienalle, Sri Lanka, Curated by Suresh Jayaram and Roman Berka
“Crushing Eggs” Performance and participation at Live Art 2011, Bangalur Artists Residency
Sethu Residency 2 *Exhibition* @ Theertha 2011, Theertha Red Dot Gallery, Colombo Sri Lanka
Beyond Pressure performance art festival, Myanmar
(de)-inscribed Memories group exhibition[Praeep Chandrasiri and Bandu Banamperi] Hempel Galleries, Colombo Sri Lanka, Performance by Bandu manamperi
theertha @1.shanthiroad Bangalore India
Sethu Residency 1shanthi road @ theertha 2010, an exhibition at Red Dot Gallery, Colombo Sri Lanka Performance as a guest artist.
Imagining Pease, Ist Colombo Art Bienalle, Sri Lanka, Curated by by Prof. Jagath Weerasinghe and Annoushka Hampel.
Numbed (Solo Exhibition), Red Dot Gallery, Pitakotte, Sri Lanka.
Theertha- Works on Paper, National Art Gallery, Maldive.
“PostcART”, Sudu Gallery, Galle, Sri Lanka.
International Artists Residency Exhibition, Red Dot Gallery, Pitakotte, Sri Lanka.
Artful Resistance, Museum of Anthropology, Vienna, Austria.
'Buy 1 get 1 free', HAT2 Program , Plymouth College of Art and Design Gallery, UK.
'The Maze', Collaborative Art Project, Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
'Contemporary Sri Lankan Art', Museum of far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, Sweden.
'Urban and the individual', Fenominal Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
'Aham Puram' by Theerha International Artists' Collective, Public Library, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
“Exhibition of paintings and sculpture”, Gallery 71, Galle fort, Galle, Sri Lanka.
“2nd Theertha Intentional Artists workshop” Exhibition, Lunuganga Gardens, Baruwala,Sri Lanka.
“Chartered Theft”, VAFA Gallery, Ethul Kotte, Sri Lanka.
'Crafty Thoughts', University of Liverpool, Art Gallery, Liverpool, UK.
1st Theertha International Artists 'Workshop', Gallery 706, Colombo, Sri Lanka
4th Art Link International Artists 'Workshop', Gallery 706, Colombo, Sri Lanka
“An Art Exhibition for peace and Reconciliation”, Gallery 706, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
“Made in IAS”, Gallery 706, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
“Artist for Peace” - Flag Exhibition, Selected Public Places, Sri Lanka.
'New Directions', Mount Castle, Gallery Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Residencies
Artist in Residence, Theertha, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Venice International Performance Art Week, Venice, Italy
Falls Creek Artist Camp, Melbourne, Australia.
David Thomas Art Space, Melbourne, Australia.
Theertha Performance workshop(Evening), Theertha Red Dot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
OPEN 6, Open Studio Residency, The Heritage Hotel : Art Spaces, Goa, India
Art Collaboratory Institutional Residency, Kunchi Cultural Studies Center, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
3rd Beyond Pressure Festival of Performance Art, Myanmar, 2010.
Theertha International Artists' Workshop, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Landscape Drawing Workshop, Theertha International Artists Collective Studio spaces, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
International Artists’ Residency, Theertha International Artists Collective, Pitakotte, Sri Lanka.
Crafting the Drawing and Drawing the Craft, Drawing workshop, Theertha International Artists Collective Studio spaces, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
CHAT Week, a component of the HAT2 Program, Sanskriti Kendra, New Delhi, India
HAT2 Programme: International Research Fellowship, Plymouth College of art and design, for the Crafts. Three months Residency, UK.
training in Glass blowing, glass casing while participating at HAT2 Programme: International Research Fellowship, Plymouth College of art and design.
Paper Casting Workshop, Sanskriti Kendra, New Delhi, India.
Burragorang International Artists’ Workshop, New South Wales, Australia.
Art and Craft workshop at Polonnaruwa, organized by ArtLab, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Peace Train Project, Organized by Vibavi Academy of Fine Arts, Ethulkotte, Sri Lanka.
1st Theertha Intrnational Artists’ Workshop 2001, Beruwala, Sri Lanka.
Art Link - 4th International Artists’ Camp, Culture Club, Kandalama, Sri Lanka.
Artists for Peace (Street Flag Painting Project) Fort Railway Station Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Workshop with Sue Pedly Beruwala, Lunuganga Gardens, Sri Lanka.
Workshop with Fiona Hall Beruwala, Lunuganga Gardens, Sri Lanka.
Invited Lectures & Talks
Talk on 'Golden Barrel Man – Performance artwork by Bandu Manamperi' at the art exhibition venue of WAR & PEACE – Visual Narratives from contemporary Sri Lanka, Harold Pieris Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Lecturers on 'The Body as Language' at the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR), Colombo, Sri Lanka
Lecture on 'Sri Lankan Performance Art' at the German Culture Centre in Colombo, organized by Theertha International Artists' Collective, Pitakotte, Sri Lanka
Symposium on 'Sri Lanka performance Art' at 3rd Beyond Pressure festival of performance Art Myanmar at Kargqwell Co- YIN KABAR Gallery.