Saffron Borders – A4A Saskia Fernando Gallery (2024)

Malinda Jayasinghe’s ‘Saffron Borders’ explores the intersection of  identity, power, and border creation in the context of contested land in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. The series offers commentary on the ways in which the nationalist agenda has been weaponized for the redistribution of land, systematically displacing the minority communities. ‘Saffron Borders’ draws directly from the colour of the partitions on Sri Lanka’s national flag—a deep, earthy saffron that symbolizes the country’s Buddhist heritage. This colour takes on a more ominous role in Jayasinghe’s series, engulfing and encroaching upon the wooden surfaces of his work. The artist uses this visual metaphor to represent the insidious forces at play, as borders are drawn and redrawn in ways that serve the political agendas of a majority.