KALĀ Commune

In this second edition of KALĀ Commune, our founder Saskia Fernando sits down with Jagath Weerasinghe, a seminal Sri Lankan contemporary artist, archaeologist, and academic who played a pivotal role in shaping the island’s post-1990s artistic landscape. Co-founder of the Theertha International Artists Collective and former Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology at the University of Kelaniya, he pioneered the "90s Art Trend," a movement reflecting the political trauma and social fractures of Sri Lanka's civil war.
As an archaeologist, Weerasinghe’s research spans heritage management and cultural policy. Through expressive paintings and critical scholarship, he continues to bridge historical preservation with radical artistic commentary.
Produced by @ifilm_srilanka
Recorded at @ifilm_studio_
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Welcome to the inaugural episode of the KALĀ Commune Podcast—a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices, visions, and creative forces shaping South Asia’s contemporary cultural landscape.

KALĀ (the Sanskrit word for art, craft, and creative execution) serves as our anchor. The KALĀ Commune Podcast brings together artists, curators, thinkers, and cultural catalysts from across Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the wider diaspora to dissect the region's shared histories, pressing narratives, and emerging futures.

In this first edition, we sit down with Raki Nikahetiya—a dynamic force bridging the worlds of art, activism, and environmental conservation. He is the director and co-founder of the sā Ladakh Biennale, the world’s highest-altitude regenerative art biennale, fostering site-specific installations and initiatives at the intersection of climate, culture, and community.

We dive into his creative process, the power of collective spaces, and how art can serve as a conduit for ecological and social restoration.

Produced by iFilm Sri Lanka

Recorded at iFilm Studio

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