Vimana (N1 Starfighter)

Vimana (N1 Starfighter) (2024) is a newly commissioned sculptural installation. This sculpture is the latest in a series of spacecraft lanterns that draw inspiration from mainstream science fiction and traditional Buddhist Vesak kūdu. The lanterns are historically made from bamboo and rice paper and are constructed with symbolic geometry; Rajni’s modern rendition features plywood and translucent acrylic lit with LED lights. The work explores themes of spacefaring and immigration, incorporating the Sanskrit term vimāna (which has various meanings related to flying) to challenge Western narratives of advanced aerospace technology.

Rajni Perera is an artist whose practice explores themes of hybridity, futurity, ancestral connections, and migrant and marginalized identities, as well as the realms of monsters and dreamscapes through the lens of science fiction. Rajni’s concepts intertwine across various artistic mediums, from traditional drawing and painting to clay sculpting, woodworking, lantern crafting, new media sculpture, textiles, and the innovative realm of synthetic taxidermy. She unveils the vitality inherent in the icons, beings, and objects she brings forth. Through a subversive approach, she dismantles outdated narratives of oppression, allowing these creations to serve as a healing and rejuvenating force.

Commissioned by the Toronto Biennial of Art. The presentation is made possible with the generous support of HATCH, Toronto Sculpture Garden, Galerie Hugues Charbonneau, and the Women Leading Initiative.