Joyous Procession / The Infinite Serpent

Joyous Procession / The Infinite Serpent (2024) is a painting that portrays dancing mythological characters. It belongs to a new series titled Mosquito Net. Rajni describes these works as manifestations of dreams, highlighting the deep ancestral connections to a spiritual dimension. The aesthetic appeal of these works reflects the artist’s childhood experiences with materiality and craftsmanship, while also evoking a renewed interest in the traditional medicinal practices of Sri Lanka, including its various techniques, rituals, characters, and narratives.

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 Through a subversive approach, she dismantles outdated narratives of oppression, allowing these creations to serve as a healing and rejuvenating force.