Bio
BIOGRAPHY
I would succinctly define art as ‘The reproduction of what the senses perceive, through the veil of the soul.’ Our childhood experiences, as the foundational blocks of our early reality, create a fertile foundation and the material from which our soul’s expression emerges later in life. During my toddler to preteen years in a rural Sri Lankan mountain village, I was fortunate to experience a wondrous amalgamation of intangible native culture, various religious phenomena, and daily life enriched with the authenticity and humility of these expressions and experiences. I believe it instills a certain sensitivity in a child that carries on into adulthood. Flying kites in the middle of paddy fields, crafting lanterns during Buddhist festival seasons, reading beneath the shelter of trees, listening to mystical fairy tales and folk tales from elders, and experiencing the ancient Buddhist frescoes and sculptures of the village temple enhanced my imagination and sparked my interest in the arts.
During my period of study at Bandaranayake College, Gampaha, I was able to assimilate into visual arts, drama & theater. I pursued art history, watercolor painting, drawing, and a cogitation of still life at the Thiwarna Art Academy and Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts from 2005 until 2009.
In 2009, I entered the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, becoming an apprentice in visual arts and design, image arts, and mass communication. I completed my BA special degree in Image Arts in 2013, which included cinema, television, video arts, and photography. Additionally, I pioneered surreal photo manipulations in Sri Lanka through an expedition and self-study.
Following my graduation, I taught at the University of Kelaniya in 2013, sharing practical and theoretical knowledge in cinema, video, and photography for three years. The lack of basic filmmaking facilities at that time in the university led me to research and experiment with alternative narrative and film production methods as an indie filmmaker.
Parallel to being a lecturer, I founded the Vihayas Production Company (Find out more on www.vihayas.lk), producing alternative films and video productions, including feature telefilms and documentaries. This company enabled me to support many students’ productions during that time.
From 2015 to 2020, I worked as a creative director at WAYO Creatives, WAYO-Brick House Studio, and WAYO Music. During my time at WAYO, I aimed to effect a significant change in the local music & entertainment industry by introducing new concepts for live concert design and campaign design, such as the ‘Anagathaye’ concert series, ‘Api Kauruda’ concert series, and ‘Wayo Brick House Sessions’.
I have received several awards, including best director, best cinematographer, and best editor in Derana Music Video Awards and State Music Festival in 2014. I served as the visual designer and creative director for the song “Ayyo Saami” by Sanuka and Windy, which went viral globally and won ‘The Best Song of the Year’ at the SLIM Peoples Award 2023, and ‘The Sensational Song of the Year 2023’ award at 16th Edison Awards 2024 – Chennai, India.
The short film “Dying Dreams,” which I shot, won several awards as one of the best short films of the year in 2016 at Agenda 14 International Film Festival, Sri Lanka, and was nominated for local and international film festivals. From 2016 to 2017, I worked as the film promotion designer & graphic artist on the award-winning feature film ‘The Wind Beneath Us’. “ABUSED PRODUCT – Come claim your shares!” is a mixed-media video art performance screened at The Ubumuntu Arts Festival 2021 in Rwanda. I served as a video artist for the production.
In 2011, I participated in a group exhibition “ATAWAKA” organized by the Goethe-Institut, Sri Lanka. In 2012, I participated in an exhibition and festival on film and photography called “UPANETHA 2012” at Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo. One of my newest video art, “Mine-Mine-Mine” was screened at the Venice Contemporary Art Festival – Anima Mundi 2024, during the 60th Venice Biennale of Art. This 10-minute video art installation was based on my upcoming indie feature film of the same title (අස්මිමානය – Mine-Mine-Mine), which is currently in the post-production process.
Currently, I work as a lead artist and facilitator at the SpaceEka Artists’ Residency in Sri Lanka (find out more at www.spaceeka.com). The production “Once Upon a Time I was Addicted to You – a Contemporary Ritual,” performed in the USA, India, and Sri Lanka from 2020 to 2023, is an ongoing research-based work by SpaceEka Artists.
In 2024, I’m in the process of post-production for my very first feature film, “Asmimanaya (Mine-Mine-Mine)” (find out more at www.asmimanaya.com). Co-written, shot, and directed by me, the creative process of the film reflects my extensive research and experimentation in alternative filmmaking and narrative.
Presently, I am a primary collaborator at the SpaceEka Artists’ Residency in Sri Lanka, working to bring forth an alternative art practice that better serves our society. Here, I continue to utilize my decade-long experience in research and study to create an alternative approach and space for the practice and study of film and visual culture.
Every artist dips his brush into his own soul and paints his nature into his pictures. If my creations evoke conscious and mindful awareness within you, I believe my wish is fulfilled.
– Prasad Aluthwattha
April 2023 at Vihayas Art House, Gampaha
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