Biography
Jagath Dheerasekara is an Amnesty International Human Rights Innovation Fund Grant recipient. His second spell of photography began in mid 90s with his return to Sri Lanka from France where he spent his exile life. He has presented his work in a number of solo exhibitions, selected group exhibitions and photo festivals in several countries. In Australia Aboriginal, refugee / immigrant, environment and social themes took prominence in his work. Documenting Alyawarre aboriginal people in Ampilatwatja in Northern Territory who walked off to settle back in their traditional homeland was Jagath’s first project once he settled in Australia in 2008. He has worked on assignments for a range of clients chiefly on social justice / humanitarian topics and art projects.
Grants, awards and prizes
2011 A finalist of the One Life Photography Competetion of the USA
2011 A finalist to the William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize by the Monash Gallery of Art
2011 A finalist to the Marrickville Contemporary Art Prize
2010 Amnesty International Human Rights Innovation Fund Grant Award
2009 A nominee to the Award for the Editorial Series at the New York Photo Awards 2009 (NYPHA’09)
2007 A nominee to the US Spider Award (professional category)
Solo exhibitions
2012 Manuwangku, Under the Nuclear Cloud, Library, La Trobe University, Bundoora Campus, Melborne (Up coming)
2012 Manuwangku, Under the Nuclear Cloud, Customs House, Sydney
2012 Manuwangku, Under the Nuclear Cloud, Pine Street Gallery, Sydney
2011 Stars Sky Trees Breeze, ATVP Art Inc., Sydney
2006 Song of the Unsung, Foyles Gallery, London
2004 Camera Sketches, Stockholm
Collective exhibitions
2011 Contested Territory, ATVP Art Inc., Sydney
2010 My Clothline, Campbelltown Art Centre, Australia
2010 Intimate Space, Campbelltown Art Centre, Australia
2008 Urban Changes, Colombo
2008 Urban Changes, Banglore
2008 Urban Changes, Karachchi
2008 Urban Changes, Delhi
2008 Urban Changes, Pune
2007 Urban Changes, Mumbai
2007 My Oasis of Silence, the Goethe-Institut, Colombo
2006 Imagine Tropics, the Goethe-Institut, Colombo
2003 Tones of Black and Shades of White, the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo
Festivals
2012 HeadOn Photo Festival, Sydney
2012 FotoFreo, Perth
2012 Sustainable Living Festival, Melbourne
2010 Real Red Art Festival, Sydney
2010 artRiot, Sydney Fringe Festival
2009 Chobi Mela V International Festival of Photography, Bangladesh
2008 Singapore International Festival of Photography, Singapore
2008 Fisher’s Ghost Festival, Australia
Residencies, Academic publications and Education
2012 Master Class and Mentoring Programme by David Alan Harvey
2007 The Urban Changes project organized and sponsored by the Goethe-Institut Mumbai, India
2007 Oasis of Silence project organized and sponsored by the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo and the Goethe-Institut Colombo, Sri Lanka
2006 Imagine Tropics, organized and sponsored by the Goethe-Institut Colombo, Sri Lanka
“A Journey through Intimate Space” in South Asia Journal for Culture – Volume 2 – 2008
Master of Science degree in Information Technology from the University of Keele, UK