Her Illness An exhibition by Madhava Arunashanta

“It was during a particular period from June to November 2024 that I began to closely observe the invisible challenges women navigate. These struggles are not just personal—they’re shaped by social, cultural, and economic structures.."

Madhava Arunashanta is a Sri Lankan designer, educator, and artist whose career spans over 25 years. Known for his simple, art deco-inspired designs, Madhava is a passionate advocate for creativity as a means of communication and healing. With postgraduate studies and professional training in librarianship, education, counselling, training technology, art therapy, and management, he has honed a multidisciplinary approach to art and design. His academic journey includes credentials from prestigious institutions such as the University of Colombo, the University of Peradeniya, and the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration, among others.

Beyond his artistic pursuits, Madhava has been a dedicated teacher and school administrator, deeply committed to shaping the next generation of artists. These varied experiences culminate in his latest collection, HER ILLNESS, a profound exploration of the silent struggles women face within societal frameworks.

“It was during a particular period from June to November 2024 that I began to closely observe the invisible challenges women navigate,” Madhava shared. “These struggles are not just personal—they’re shaped by the social, cultural, and economic structures that dictate their lives. This realization became the foundation for HER ILLNESS.”

The collection is a series of mixed-media works where Madhava channels his emotions into two- and three-dimensional forms, primarily using carved hardwood. The material serves as a powerful metaphor, embodying both resilience and constraint. “The wood acts as both an inscribed surface and an internal material. It mirrors how women are shaped and restricted by societal expectations while simultaneously possessing the strength to extend beyond these limitations,” Madhava explained.

With its tension-filled forms, the collection documents the experience of women living with what Madhava calls a “chronic illness” of societal neglect. “Women are often seen as caregivers, yet their own access to care and love is profoundly limited. This lack of care stems not from their inability to seek it but from the flawed frameworks of our society,” he said.

The therapeutic nature of creating HER ILLNESS allowed Madhava to process these observations while inviting viewers to confront uncomfortable truths. “This work is not just art; it’s a documentation of suffering and resilience. Women living within this ‘ill society’ are not ‘ill’ themselves—they are adapting and surviving in the face of systemic injustice.”

Madhava’s collection is both a visual and emotional experience, a call to reevaluate how society perceives and treats women. “Like the wood in my work, women expand beyond the boundaries set for them, reaching out for love, care, and the freedom they deserve,” he concluded. HER ILLNESS stands as a testament to their resilience and a challenge to the frameworks that seek to confine them.