KALĀ

Art South Asia Project (ASAP) has continued its collaboration with KALĀ, a platform dedicated to celebrating South Asian modern and contemporary art. Rooted in the Sanskrit term for “art,” KALĀ highlights the creativity of both local and diasporic South Asian arts communities while championing sustainable growth within the art ecosystems of Sri Lanka and the wider region. It creates opportunities for collaboration and experiential expression, addressing areas that require greater visibility and engagement. 

The second edition of KALĀ, which took place from 10 - 28 February 2025, included an artist residency project in collaboration with the University of Visual and Performing Arts Colombo (UVPA) to celebrate its 75th anniversary. This six-week residency, which began in January, brought together artists from Sri Lanka and across South Asia, offering a space for local research, artistic development, and cultural exchange. The programme culminated in the exhibition, KALĀ Commune, curated by Mandira Ranathunga at the JDA Perera Gallery in Colombo during KALĀ 2025. KALĀ 2025 also featured the second edition of the exhibition, Pivot. Echo. Glide, curated by Mariyam Begum. Both KALĀ exhibitions have been curated under the guidance of KALĀ’s Curatorial Advisor, Sandhini Poddar (Adjunct Curator, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project).

KALĀ x ASAP took place at Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams from 12–14 February, featuring a series of talks curated by Team ASAP. As this year’s edition of KALĀ centred around the residency programme, Team ASAP curated discussions that explored how artists navigate the art world, participate in residency programmes, collaborate with curators and institutions, and establish themselves independently. The programme fostered critical conversations on artistic practice, institutional engagement, and sustaining an artistic career in today’s shifting climate. Below is a list of the talks that took place over the two-day event.

Through an open call process, KALĀ x ASAP once again hosted closed door Artist Portfolio Reviews with Iaroslav Volovod (Curator, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism), Meneesha Kellay (Senior Curator, Contemporary, Victoria and Albert Museum), Rosa Tyhurst (Curator, Gasworks), and Munem Wasif (Artist).

This programme was supported by Faizal & Shabana Foundation and QissaGoi (UAE).  

https://www.kalasouthasia.com/