“Cultural Mosaic” Exhibition: Sri Lankan Tamil Catholic Art and Architecture in Lisbon

During the exhibition

The fascinating intersection of 19th-century Tamil Catholic art and architecture in Northern Sri Lanka is now on display at the University of Lisbon, Portugal, as part of the “Cultural Mosaic” exhibition. Curated by architect and scholar Sagara Jayasinghe, the exhibition offers a compelling look into the rich cultural heritage of Tamil Christians set against the backdrop of the region’s historical and ethnic landscape.

The exhibition at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lisbon highlights the unique blend of regional Tamil Catholic traditions shaped by a confluence of Hindu religious practices and colonial Catholicism during the 19th century. Through a series of stunning visuals, the exhibition traces how these influences gave rise to an exceptional fusion of art, architecture, folklore, and rituals. The showcase features Tamil-Catholic encounters, the adaptability of religious spaces, and architectural inspirations drawn from Cochin, Malabar, and the vernacular architecture of Northern Sri Lanka.

The exhibition, running from January 15 until March 1, 2025, is made possible with support from the Portuguese institution of  ‘Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia’ as part of the ARTIS-IHA Base Funding project. This display in Lisbon follows its debut at the University of Jaffna’s Art Gallery, where it was part of the International Conference on “Tamil Christian Art Worlds” held in February 2024. This earlier event was a collaborative effort by the Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna, and the Post Graduate & Research Department of Folklore, St. Xavier’s College in Tamil Nadu, South India.

Sagara Jayasinghe, an admired figure in Sri Lanka’s architectural community, has been instrumental in bringing this exhibition to life. A fellow of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Moratuwa’s Department of Integrated Design, Jayasinghe has spent years researching cultural heritage, missionary movements, and ecclesiastical art and architecture in Sri Lanka. His work, including published books, conference papers, public lectures and exhibitions, has established him as an authority on these topics.

Jayasinghe, who recently completed his doctoral studies at the University of Lisbon, received the highest academic honour of Summa Cum Laude for his thesis on Christian art and architecture in colonial Sri Lanka. His efforts extend beyond academia, as he currently serves as the Vice President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Sri Lanka and holds expert memberships with ICOMOS International, particularly in the International Scientific Committee on Places of Religion and Ritual and the International Scientific Committee on Shared Built Heritage. 

This exhibition not only underscores the complex history and traditions of Tamil Christians but also celebrates the cross-cultural exchanges that shaped the region’s identity. It offers a glimpse into an often overlooked yet vital part of Sri Lanka’s rich cultural fabric, now shared with the global audience in Europe.