Colomboscope festival announces 2021 artist lineup with international ambitions despite pandemic delays

The contemporary art festival Colomboscope, established in 2013 in Sri Lanka, has revealed its lineup for the 2021 edition, which will now span ten days starting from August 12, 2021, after a delay caused by COVID-19. This year's theme, 'Language is Migrant,' draws inspiration from a poem by Cecilia Vicuña and is curated by Anushka Rajendran alongside artistic director Natasha Ginwala. Taking place in historical locations throughout Colombo, the festival will showcase artists such as Palash Bhattacharjee, Muvindu Binoy, and Dora García. While organizers are encountering difficulties in fundraising, they are striving for international partnerships. Although artist residencies across Sri Lanka have faced postponements, there is hope for partial execution. The festival transitioned to a biennial format in 2019, a timely move in light of the pandemic.