The Interview: Pushpakanthan Pakkiyarajah

Pushpakanthan Pakkiyarajah is a multidisciplinary Sri Lankan artist from Batticaloa, working across drawing, painting, video, sculpture, installation, and performance. His art is deeply influenced by the legacies of Sri Lanka’s Civil War (1983–2009), exploring both human and environmental impacts and the healing potential of art.

Art as a Medium for Historical Connection

“I’m asking audiences to come and see and understand my history, see how everything is connected, and how even my war is also connected with everything.”

Pakkiyarajah engages viewers in dialogue, encouraging them to understand his personal and collective history. Whether or not audiences fully grasp it, he frames art as a conversation between himself and the public. His work amplifies the voices of those silenced by conflict and trauma.

Global Context and Future Outlook

His art extends beyond local experiences, inviting reflection on these themes from a global perspective. A crucial aspect of his work is exploring how communities with histories of conflict can confront the past while moving toward regeneration and healing.

Awareness of Environmental Impact

“The first time travelling to the University of Jaffna for my undergraduate studies, I passed through land with trees that were burnt, with no leaves.”

This experience marked his initial awareness of how conflict affects the natural environment, which became an important subject in his artistic practice.

Summary

Pushpakanthan Pakkiyarajah uses multidisciplinary art to connect personal and collective histories of conflict, inviting global audiences to engage in dialogue about trauma, loss, and the hope for renewal.

Would you like the text to be simplified further or more detailed?

ArtReview — 2025-11-06