A&D ANNUAL 2021

Heshanthi Munasinha

Elephants are held in high esteem in South Asian cultures. Although they have prominent places in religious festivals, proper respect and care for these creatures is scarce. Urbanisation and deforestation of their ecosystems have forced them into uninhabitable lands, laden with litter. Heshanthi Munasinha uses a mixed media approach as an instrument to highlight the severity of this issue. Everyday waste items that make up the mountains of debris, such as plastic bags, bottle caps and wrappers, have been incorporated into the artwork, woven throughout the piece. This is by no means a new issue, but it is a current and ever-increasing threat that lacks awareness and empathy. Humanity's actions and reactions to waste and pollution are detrimental to these irreplaceable animals and Heshanthi hopes that this piece might shed a light on its urgency.