Asymmetry Art Exhibition
The founding event of The Hope House of Ceylon — voicing the asymmetries of our society through art.
Where It All Began
Asymmetry was the debut exhibition of artist and Hope House founder Pavithra Perera — and the founding moment of The Hope House of Ceylon. Held at the historic Lionel Wendt Art Gallery in Colombo, the exhibition brought together charcoal drawings, acrylic paintings, and a deeply personal mission: to give voice to those affected by political violence in Sri Lanka.
More than an art show, Asymmetry was a social intervention — a call for urgent reflection on the scars left by decades of conflict and the Easter Sunday bombings of April 2019. The exhibition opened a space where art became a vehicle for empathy, healing, and community action.
Her art is a social intervention that calls for urgent action to help those who have been traumatised by political violence in North as well as the South. The inner feelings of the victims who are suffering in silence are depicted with lines, shades and patches of colour.
Faces So Loud
This series of charcoal portraits was born from time spent with victims of the Easter Sunday attacks on 21 April 2019 and the violence that followed. Following a "bottom to top" approach, Hope House listened first — letting survivors voice their own stories and needs before seeking to help.
Rather than imposing solutions, the portraits aim to channel feelings that words alone cannot convey — pain, resilience, and the quiet demand to be heard — through raw charcoal lines on paper.
Art Is My Therapy
A collection of paintings and drawings created while Pavithra was studying in England and the Netherlands — a fruit of the mental healthcare services she received in Europe, combined with her lifelong fascination with the human face.
These works reach for the emotions and expressions in faces rather than photographic accuracy. Created with charcoal and acrylic on fingertips — without formal training in brushwork or technique — the pieces carry a raw, instinctive honesty that speaks directly to the viewer.
Acrylic on Fingertips
A tactile, unmediated form of mark-making — acrylic applied directly with fingertips on paper. These works bypass conventional tools entirely, letting the artist's hands carry emotion straight onto the surface. The result is raw and immediate: visible traces of touch that connect the maker to the viewer without filter.
Watch the Promotional Video
A short promotional film produced before the exhibition to introduce the themes, works, and ideas behind Asymmetry. It was created to invite audiences and provide context ahead of the show.
Art as Social Intervention
Asymmetry was curated by Prof. Chandraguptha Thenuwara of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Sri Lanka, and supported by artist Kingsley Gunatillake. Both recognised the exhibition as something beyond conventional art — a step towards using creativity as a tool for social change.
In a time where social caring efforts and art have a distant relationship, if more artists involved to working on reducing that distance, it would be a big help for us to enjoy a better society today.
From Exhibition to Mission
What began as a five-day exhibition at the Lionel Wendt became the catalyst for The Hope House of Ceylon. The relationships formed, the conversations started, and the vision articulated through Asymmetry continue to shape our work today — from peer support and workshops to advocacy and storytelling.
Asymmetry proved that art can be more than decoration. It can be a bridge between those who suffer in silence and a society willing to listen.
Media Coverage
The exhibition was covered by several Sri Lankan publications: