🐓 ARTRA’s Best of Emerging Artists 2023 : Colourism by Malki Jayakody

In her collection ‘Colourism’, Jayakody wields a myriad of mediums, such as watercolour, inks, oil paints, pencils and pens to illustrate the human race’s battles with a range of “-isms” or ideologies associated with discriminatory practices. Colonialism seems to have considerably influenced Sri Lankan society’s views of ethnicity, gender, race and social class – through which colourism has been a prevalent bias. Through her works in this collection, she endeavours to challenge the rampant status quo that reduces dark skin to lesser than lighter skin tones, and explore colourism’s adverse effect on women in Sri Lanka.

Malki Jayakody

Currently working as a Temporary Assistant Lecturer, Malki is reading for her Master’s in Fine Arts at the University of Kelaniya. Malki completed her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from the University of Kelaniya and has developed an excellent understanding of art history, painting, and graphic design practices. She was featured on ARTRA in 2023 for impeccable use of skill and conceptual strength in her working collection, which is titled ‘Colourism’. She has participated in art projects as a part of social service efforts to enhance children’s knowledge of using waste material to enrich their creative ideas. She has also participated in The Forest School Residency programme organised by Colombosope.