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