Delusion by Chandraguptha Thenuwara is about the Anti-Tamil violence of July, 1983. The use of the term ‘delusion,’ is a play on the word ‘devolution,’ a term taken from the anti-Tamil chant, “devolution can only happen over our dead bodies.”
Through his work, Thenuwara articulates his belief of how Delusions related to grandiose ideas and beliefs, especially religious content, can cause fear and anxiety in communities. For example, someone with a grandiose delusion may believe that they are the reincarnation of a religious figure or that they have the power to perform miracles. These beliefs can be disruptive and harmful, and they can lead to conflict with others.
Find out more about the exhibition here.