Sri Lankan Art

·Multiple voices and mediums locate the island within its larger geographical space, giving Sri Lanka a unique voice in the global artistic community·Bringing attention to Sri Lanka's contacts with the European world·Of interest to students and enthusiasts of Asian art and interesecting cultureThis anthology of essays devoted to Sri Lanka's art histories, showcases current research into the island's diverse artistic traditions. Ranging from the ancient city of Anuradapura to the contemporary art scene, this volume highlights the art histories that connect local, regional and global art worlds. Expanding the canon beyond the standard Sinhala-Buddhist narrative, the writers attend to the subtle and complex processes of connectedness that embed Sri Lanka's art histories in various transnational moments. They also pay attention to producers and patrons by attending closely to the visual surfaces of various forms and mediums. At times the writers approach the artistic traditions of the island from the outside; at other times they consider them from the inside, locating the island's artistic heritages in the dialectical relationship between national traditions and connected cultures. This intervention is but a first step in rethinking the art histories of the island.