Dr. T. Sanathanan
Research Interest:
Modern & Contemporary Art of Sri Lanka, Modernism, Colonial Art, Craft practices, Art of Memory, Popular Visual Culture
Email: tsanathanan@univ.jfn.ac.lk
Educational Qualification
- 2011: PhD in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
- 2000: MFA in Painting, University of Delhi.
- 1997: BFA in Painting, University of Delhi.
Work experience
Professor of Art History, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna (2022- current).
Senior Lecturer Gr I, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna (2011-2022).
Senior Lecturer Gr II, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna (2005-2011).
Probationary Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna (2000-2005).
Temporary Assistant Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna (1997-1998).
Positions held
- Head, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka (01/09/2017 -01/09/2020).
- Coordinator, Art and Design Unit (01/10/2010- 30/ 9/2013).
- Editor- in- Chief, JUICE 2016.
Convener local/International Conferences on Art History
Co-convenor, Pop Art and South Asia Conference (2025).
Co-convenor, Rethinking Heritage: Conflict, Reconciliation and Agency (2025).
Co-convenor, Tamil Christian Art Worlds (2024).
Convener, One Hundred Years of Humanities and Social Sciences Education – Trajectories, Continuities and Discontinuities, Maanudam Research Conference, Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna (29-30 July 2022).
- Co-convenor, Trans/Formation: Craft, Practice & discourse, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna, American institute for Sri Lankan Studies, Colombo, Lanka Decorative Arts, Colombo, Sri Lankan Archive for contemporary Art, Architecture and Design (10-12 May 2018).
- Co-convenor, Female Deities & Devotion in Sri Lanka: Ritual, Representation & Resilience Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna with the support of Centre for Poverty Analysis, Colombo (24-26 April 2014).
- Convener, Rethinking Sri Lankan Art: Objects, Methods and Politics (International conference), Departmentof Fine Arts, University of Jaffna (4-5 March 2011).
- Convener, Contextualizing Jaffna Architecture: styles and Aspects, Departmentof Fine Arts, University of Jaffna (28-29 March 2001).
Editorial Board Member of Journals
- Editorial Board Member, Kalai Varalaru, Department of Fine Arts (2000-2025).
- Editorial Board Member, The Sri Lankan Journal of South Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna (13/01/2016-25/01/2018).
- Editorial Board Member, Art Lab, Theertha Artists Collective, Colombo (2005-2011).
- Editor, Pannual: Socio Cultural Inquiry, Colombo Institute (2003-2009).
- Editorial Board Member, South Asian Journal for Culture, Colombo Institute (2007 – 2009).
- Editorial Board Member, Chinthanai, Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna (2003-2006).
Awards
- Bhunka Award, Presented by the Japan Sri Lanka Friendship Cultural Fund for the special achievement in Paining (1st November 2014).
- Kalasuri Award: Government of Sri Lanka-to the contribution in the field of art, 2005 November.
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Peer Reviewed Publications
Julff, G., Sanathanan,T., Young. R; et al. 2025, ‘Localizing Heritage: Archaeology of the recent past in post war Jaffna, Sri Lanka’, International Journal for Historical Archaeology.
Hasini Haputhanthri; Gill Juleff; T. Sanathanan. 2023 ‘Heritage and Decoloniality: Reflections from Sri Lanka—A Conversation’. ” American Anthropologist 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/aman.13949.
Sanathanan, T., 2017, ‘Visual possession: landscape painting in British Ceylon’, The Sri Lankan Journal of South Asian Studies, Vol.03, No. 02, pp.91-108.
- Shanaathanan, T., 2015, ‘Commemorating home: art as place making, an artist’s narration’, Journal of Material Culture,Vol.20, No.4, pp.415-428.
- Sanathanan, T., 2015, ‘Being a stranger and a suspect: being Sri Lankan Tamil’, The Sri Lankan Journal of South Asian Studies, Vol. 01, No. 01, pp.103-116.
- Sanathanan, T., 2008, ‘பிறரை உற்றுப்பாத்தல்: லயனல் வென்ற் மற்றும் டேவிட் பெயின்டரின் படைப்புகளில் ஆண் தேகம்’, (‘Gazing the other: Male Body in the Art of Lionel Wendt and David Paynter’). பனுவல்: சமூக பண்பாட்டு விசாரணை (Pannual: Socio Cultural Inquiry), Issue 6, pp.31-50).
- Sanathanan, T., 2007, ‘காலனிய யாழ்ப்பாணத்து ஓவியத்தில் நவீனத்துவமும் முரணணியும்’ (Modernity and Irony in the paintings of Colonial Jaffna) பனுவல்: சமூக பண்பாட்டு விசாரணை (Pannual: Socio Cultural Inquiry), Issue 5, pp.5-33.
- Sanathanan, T., 2005, ‘நிரந்தரமற்வற்றை நிரந்தரமாக்கல்: யாழ்ப்பாணத்துக் கோயில்களில் முகமண்டபக் கட்டடக்கலையின் கோலமாற்றம்’ (‘Making the Impermanent Permanent: The Configurations of Mugamadhapa Architecture in Jaffna Temples’), சிந்தனை,(Chinthanai), Vol. XV, issue 1, pp. 101-116.
- Sanathanan, T., 2000, ‘சமகாலத்து யாழ்ப்பாணக் கோயில் ஓவியங்கள்: காண்பிய அர்த்தமும் சனரஞ்சக நம்பிக்கையும்’(Contemporary Temple Paintings in Jaffna- Visual Meaning and Popular Belief), Chinthanai, Vol xii, issue ii.
- Sanathanan, T., 2000, ‘இருபதாம் நூற்றாண்டில் காண்பியக்கலை மற்றும் தமிழ் இலக்கித்துகிடையிலான ஊடாட்டம்'(Interaction between visual art and Tamil literature in 20th century), தமிழினி, (Tamilini), Nagarcoil; Kalachchuvadu.
Articles in Non-Refereed Journals
- Sanathanan,T., ‘திரிசங்கு வெளி: காலனிய கொழும்பில் பெண் படைப்பாளிகள்’ (Space in-between: Women Artist in Colonial Colombo, Art Lab, Issue 4& 5, pp.59-63.
- Sanathanan, T., ‘காண்பியமாக்கப்பட்ட பெண் உடல்: ஜோர்ச் கீற்றின் ஓவியங்களில் மரபும் நவீனத்துவமும்’ (Visualized Female Body: Tradition and Modernity in George Keyt’s Paintings), Art Lab, Issue 4&5, pp.90-107.
- Shanaathanan, T., Shortlist /Sri Lanka, Asian Art Archive, Hong Kong https://aaa.org.hk/en/ideas/ideas/shortlist-sri-lanka.
- Sanathanan, T., 2003/2004, ‘யாழ்ப்பாணத்தவரிடத்தில் ஓவியம் என்ற கலை வடிவம்: ஓர் அறிமுகக்குறிப்பு’ (Painting among Jaffna people: An Introductory Note), Hindu Dharmam, University of Peradeniya, pp.42-46.
- Sanathanan, T., 2001, சின்னத்தம்பி அமரசிங்கத்தின் படைப்பாக்க அனுபவக்குறிப்பு, (Sinnaththamby Amarasigam), Ther Thiruuani Malar, Sri Ambalavana Vetha Vinayagar Temple, Thavady, pp. 21-24.
- Sanathanan,T 2001, ‘Re- Evaluating Mark Master’, Third Eye, Issue 7, January, p.12.
Conference Proceedings
Published as Full Paper
- Sanathanan, T., 2017, ‘How to draw histories? art as method’, in Idea of India: conference proceedings, Seagull Foundation for Arts, Calcutta, pp.114-130.
Published in Abstract Form
Sanathanan, T., 2025, ‘Political Pop after the 1990s in Sri Lanka: Meaning and Dissonance’, Pop Art and South Asia Conference, Jaffna, organized by University of Cornel, USA. Sri Lankan Archive of Contemporary Art, Architecture and Design, American Institute for Lankan Studies.
Sanathanan,T., Gillian Juleff, Kamalakumari Karunaanithy, Ruth Young, 2025, ‘Is there q role for archaeology and heritage in Jaffna’s future?’, International Symposium, Rethinking Heritage: Conflict, Reconciliation & Agency, University of Jaffna.
Sanathanan, T., 2024, ‘Pathways of Representationalism: Catholic Polychrome Wooden Icons of Jaffna’, An International conference on Tamil Christian Art Worlds, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, and the Post Graduate & Research Department of Folklore and FRRC (Folklore Resources & Research Center), St. Xavier’s College (autonomous), Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu, South India.
Sanathanan, T., 2019, ‘Archiving the difficult past: violence, memory, resistance and photography in Sri Lanka.” Light writing’: international conference on photography. Chennai Photo Biennial, (16-17, March), p.1.
- Sanathanan, T., 2017, ‘How to draw histories?: art as method’, Idea of India: An International conference on teaching History, Seagull Foundation for Arts, Calcutta, India. (15-17 August).
- Sanathanan, T., 2016, ‘An inventory of ephemera: kitchen utensils from wood and palmyrah’, International Conference on the Kitchen; Culinary Ethnology in Sri Lanka, Lanka Decorative Arts, Colombo, ( 4-7 August) p.19.
- Sanathanan, T., 2015, ‘Tradition and modernity: early twentieth century murals of Jaffna’, Workshop on Developing Perspectives on the Art Histories of Sri Lanka, American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies, Colombo (25, July).
- Sanathanan, T., 2015, “Painted female body: modernity, tradition and female nudes in George Keyt’s Paintings’’, Engineering Social Transformation through research and Development, Annual Research Symposium, National Centre for Advance Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, Sri Lanka (8-9 June ), p.116.
- Sanathanan, T., 2012, ‘Cannon of change / change of cannon: popular architectural styles of Jaffna temples’, Connecting South Asia, Theertha International Artists’ Association and Colombo Institute, at Post graduate Institute of Archeology, Colombo (28-29 ,September), p.4.
- Sanathanan, T., 2012, ‘Architecture of memory/ memory of architecture; art, memory and conflict in Sri Lanka”, Disturbing Past: Memories/ Controversies/ Creativity, Museum of Ethnology, Vienna, Austria( 20-22 November)..
- Sanathanan, T., 2012, ‘ Memorizing home: art: art as place making’, Art and Aesthetics in a Globalizing World, Association of social Anthropologists of UK and Commonwealth, Jawaharlala Nehru University ,New Delhi, (3-6 April)p.127.
- Sanathanan, T., 2011, ‘Painting the Sinhala Buddhist nation: Temple murals of M. Sarlis’, Re- Thinking Sri Lankan Art History, Object, Methods and Politics. Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna (4-5 March),.
- Perera, Sasanka., 2011, ‘Gated communities as packaged fantasies: the meeting of the local and the global and the standardization of the taste in urban Sri Lanka, in Jonathan Shapiro Anjariaand Colin McFarlane(eds.), Urban navigations: politics, space and city in South Asia, Routledge, New Delhi.
- Sanathanan, T., 2008, ‘A stranger and a suspect, being a Sri Lankan Tamil: narratives of person hood in visual art’, Being Human- Being Tamil- Personhood, Agency and Identity, Third Annual Tamil Studies Conference, University of Toronto, Canada (May 15-17 ), p.33.
Translations
- Bank Michael, 1960, ‘Cast in Jaffna’, in E.R.Leach (ed), Aspect of caste in South India, Ceylon and North-West Pakistan, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp.61-76.
- Wimal, Saminathan, T.Sanathanan (trans.), ‘யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் சாதி‘, பனுவல், Issue 7, 2009, pp. 6-27
- Sanathanan.T., (trans.) 2007, ‘எல்லா வேடர்களும் எங்கு சென்றுவிட்டனர்?: இலங்கையில் பௌத்தமும் முதுகுடித்தன்மையும்’, in T.Sanathanan (ed), இலங்கைச் சமூகத்தையும் பண்பாட்டையும் வாசித்தல்: தெரிவுசெய்யப்பட்ட கட்டுரைகள் மூன்றாவது தொகுதி, Colombo Institute, Colombo, pp.3-28.
- Sanathanan, T., (trans.) 2007, ‘ஆவியின் பீடித்தல்களும் பழி தீர்க்கும் பிசாசுகளும்: பயங்கரத்தின் கதையாடல்களாகவும் எதிர்கொள்ளனதும் நினைவுகூர்தலினதும் பொறிமுறைகளாக இயற்கைக்கு அப்பாற்பட்ட செயற்பாடுகளின் கதைகள், in T.Sanathanan (ed), இலங்கைச் சமூகத்தையும் பண்பாட்டையும் வாசித்தல்: தெரிவுசெய்யப்பட்ட கட்டுரைகள் மூன்றாவது தொகுதி, Colombo Institute, Colombo, pp.31-94.
- Jeevasuthan,S., T, Sanathanan., 2006, ‘பொதி செய்யப்பட்ட வினோதங்களாகத் தொடர்மாடி மனைகள், பனுவல், Issue 4, pp.64-86.
- Saminathan Wimal and T.Sanathanan (trans.), ‘காலனிய நகரத்தைச் சுதேசமயப்படுத்துதல்: பத்தொன்பதாம் நூற்றாண்டின் இறுதிப்பகுதியில் கொழும்பும் அதன் நிலவுருவும்‘,பனுவல், Issue 4 2005, pp.84-126.
- Obeysekara, Gananath 2004, ‘Where have all the veddas gone: Buddhism and aboriginality in Sri Lanka, in Neluka Silva (ed.),The Hybrid Island: culture crossing and the invention of Identity in Sri Lanka, Social Scientist Association, Colombo, pp.1-19.
- Pollock,Griselda 2003, ‘Feminist intervention in art histories’, in Vision of difference: feminism, femininity and histories of art, Routledge, London.
- Perera, Nihal 2002, ‘Indigenising the colonial city: late 19th century Colombo and its landscape’, Urban Studies, Vol.39, No.9.
- Perera, Sasanka 2001, Spirit possessions and avenging ghosts: stories of supernatural activity as narrativesof terror and mechanisms of coping and remembering’, in Veena Das, Arthur Kleinman, Margaret Lock, Mamphela Ramphele and Pamela Raynolds (eds.), Remaking a world: violence, social suffering and recovery, University of California, Los Angeles and Berkley.
- Sanathanan, T (year not mentioned), ‘கலை வரலாற்றில் பெண்ணியத் தலையீடு’, Art Lab, Issue 3 and 4, pp. 3-20.
Conference Presentations
Sanathanan. T. 2026, ‘The Art of Archiving: Art, Memories and heritage in Post Armed conflict Sri Lanka’, Historical and Cultural Studies, University of Toronto, Canada
Sanathanan.T 2025, ‘காட்சிப்புலத்தில் தமிழடையாளமும் தமிழத் தன்மையும்: பிரதிநிதித்துவம், பிரதி, முகவர்த்துவம் (Tamil Identity and Tamilness in Visual field: Representation, Text and Agency), International Conference.தமிழ் புலமை: வழக்காறு-எழுத்து-காட்சி, American College, Madurai.
Sanathanan,T 2022,”Tradition/Modernity:Weaving and Dying initiatives in Jaffna”,Threads on Threads: an International Conference on Textiles in Sri Lanka, South Asia and Europe, Lanka Decorative Art, Colombo(15, October)
- Sanathanan, T 2020, ‘Indian nationalism and the making of ‘modern’ in Sri Lankan art’, From Alexandria to Tokyo: Art, Colonialism and Entangled Histories : An International conference, Tate Modern, London and Mori Art Museum. Tokyo, Japan ( 3rd , December).
- Sanathanan, T 2012, ‘நெருக்கத்தின் விம்பம் அன்நியத்தனம்: வைதேகியின் ஓவியங்கள் மீதான வாசிப்பு’ (Strangeness as the reflection of Closeness: A reading on the paintings of Vaidehi), பெண் என்றதோர் பிம்பம் (Woman as an Image), A conference organized by Women education and Research Center, Colombo(7-8, December) .
- Sanathanan, T 2012, ‘Colonial Buddhist murals: modernity & liminality’, Historical Interpretation Workshop proceedings, American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies, Colombo( 26-27 July).
- Sanathanan, T 2009, ‘Space/erasure; imagining and imaging of place in the visuals of Sri Lankan and diaspora Tamil artists’, Beyond Nations: Diasporas, Transnational Practices and Global Engagement, International Centre for Ethnic studies (Colombo), University of Windsor (Canada) and Ryerson University (Canada), Penang, Malaysia (22-24 Feb)
- Sanathanan, T 2004, Dislocated locations: reading contemporary visual art in Jaffna, A Paper Presented at the Workshop on ‘Reading Contemporary Sri Lankan Visual Arts: Painting, Sculpture and Installation in Perspective’, Goethe Institute, Colombo ( 14 July).
- Sanathanan, T 2004, ‘Artist as a rebellion: surreal relocations of identity’ Trans/Formations: A Conference on Tamil Nationalism, ICES, Colombo, Sri Lanka, (December 16-19).
- Sanathanan, T 2001, நிரந்தரமற்றவற்றை நிரந்தரமாக்கல்: யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் முகமண்டபக் கட்டடக்கலை’ (Making the impermanent permanent: Mugamadapa architecture in Jaffna), Contextualizing Jaffna Architecture; Aspects and Styles, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna ( 28-29 March).
Memorial Lecture
- Sanathanan, T 2020, யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் திருமணமண்டபங்கள்: சமூக மாற்றமும் வெகுசன (Marriage Halls in Jaffna: Social Change and Popular Expressive Culture) S.D .Lourdu Endowment Lecture:, Folklore Research Centre, St. Xavier College, Palayamkottai.
- Sanathanan,T 2012, ‘அழகியற்கல்வி: பாடசாலை மட்டத்தில் இலட்சியங்களும் எல்லைகளும், (Aesthetic Education: Ideals and limits at the School Level), Mahavidvan Brammasri Veeramani Iyar memorial Lecture, Jaffna National School of Education (09, June 2012).
Keynote Address
Sanathanan, T. 2006, Inaugural Tamil Studies Lecture Series: Burden of Identity: Art in 20th Century Tamil World, Center for South Asian Studies, University of Toronto, Canada (23 January).
Sanathanan, T 2020, ‘Contemporary architecture and Tamilness’, International Conference on Visual Culture, Department of Folklore and Folklore Research Centre, St, Xavier College, Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu (20 January).
- Sanathanan,T 2018,‘Stories of survival/ resistance: art , memory and justice in post war Sri Lanka’, Justice on the Move: Tenth Annual Global South Asia NYU Conference, New York University (23-24 February).
- Sanathanan, T 2018, Archiving and art making; text, intertext and translation, Artscape: Imaging and Imagining: International Seminar, KNM Government Arts and Science College, Kanjiramkulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (13-16 November).
- Sanathanan T 2016, ‘Art and the politics of memory in contemporary Sri Lanka, Bearing Witness: Unspeakable Crimes, Invisible Atrocities- Second Tamil Studies Symposium, York University, Canada( 6-7 May).
Invited Talks
‘Towards an integrated art practice’, Barefoot gallery Colombo, 2025.
‘Book Talk: Migrated Styles/Connected Histories: Murals in Jaffna’. St Xervier College Palayamkottai, 2025.
‘Contemporary Art Syllabi: Case Studies from Hong Kong, India, and Sri Lanka,’ Asian Art Archive, Hong Kong (22 February 2025) (Webinar)
‘Ethnicizing Kandyan Design: Coomraswamy and Popular Narratives,’ American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies (23 January 2025) (Webinar)
‘Building of a ‘New’ Identity: Mandapams of Jaffna Temples,’ National Trust Sri Lanka (29 August 2024).
‘How to draw memory: Art as Method,’ Professorial Lecture, University of Jaffna, (11 January 2023).
‘Remembering A. Rasiah, Gallery Talk’, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Arts (10 April 2022).
‘Art as Witness’, An online Lecture, Department of Visual and Technological Arts, SVIAS, Batticaloa (31, January 2021).
- “Re/presenting Past: Art as Method”, Her’story, His’tory, Our’story: Engaging with and Learning about the Past, International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Colombo ,(9.Dec 2020)( Webinar)
- ‘Reservoir of Knowledge: The Art Archive as a Site of Teaching and learning’, An online Session for Art Educators of Nepal, Asian Art Archive & Mobile Library Nepal ( 05th Aug2020)
- ‘Social Change, popular expression and Wedding sets in Jaffna’, Sri Lankan Archive for contemporary Art, Architecture and Design, Jaffna 2020.
- ‘Gallery Talk’, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Arts (5. January 2020)
- ‘Artist as Eye Witness’, Rosa Muthaiah Library, Chennai, Organized by FICCA and Kochi Biennial Foundation ( 17th October 2018)
- ‘Contemporary Art in Sri Lanka’, Apparao Galleries, Chennai (17Jan 2018).
- ‘Chest of Memories, Lines of Discovery, Colours of Healing’, The Hindu Lit for Life (Literary Festival) 2018 , Chennai (16 Jan 2018)
- ‘Let’s talk with T.Shanaathanan’, Kochi- Musiris Art Biennial,(17 December 2017.
- ‘Trans/formations: Archiving in Art’, Asian Art Archive, Hong Kong (23 August 2016)
- ‘Cultural response to conflict’, Commonwealth People’s Forum, CHOGM, Malta ( 24, November,2015)
- ‘Master’s Vision: The Illusion of Realism in Sri Lankan Art’, Sri Lankan Archive for contemporary Art, Architecture and Design, Jaffna (5 April 2014).
- “Self, Home and the world”. Jaffna Science Association, Section D, University of Jaffna (1, November,2001
Writer of Chapters
Sanathanan, T., 2025, ‘Traitors’/’Terrorists’ and the Art of Self-Censorship,’ Stefan Horlacher, Thilini Meegaswatta (eds.) Contemporary Sri Lankan Literature and Art: The Creation of a New Community in the Aftermath of War, Routledge India.
Sanathanan, T., 2003, ‘Traditional Art of Jaffna’, in Sarala Fernando et al (ed.) Jaffna Heritage, Colombo: National Trust of Sri Lanka.
Sanathanan, T., 2022, ‘Modern and contemporary art in Sri Lanka’, in Mitter, Partha, Dave Mukherji and Balram Rahee (eds.), 20th Century Indian Art, Themes and Hudson. London.
- Sanathanan, T., 2020, ‘மு. கனகசபையின் ஓவியங்களும் இனவரையடமாக்கலும்’ (Paintings of M, Kanagasabai and ethnographic mapping)in E. Thanancheyan (ed.), ஓவச்செய்தி; கடந்தகாலச் செய்திகள் செல்லும் மு. கனகசபையின் ஓவியங்கள், Society for Tamilology, Colombuthurai, pp. 13-25. ( ISBN 9786245381005)
- Sanathanan, T., 2017, ‘Visualizing the Sinhala Buddhist nation: Buddhist temple murals of Sarlis master’, in Sujatha Arundathi Meegama (ed.), Sri Lanka: connected art histories, Marg Foundation, Mumbai, pp.94-111.( ISBN 938324318-X)
- Deve-Mukherji, Parul, Simone Wille, AKM Kademul Hague, T. Sanathanan, 2015, ‘Visual arts in South Asia’ in Ross Stephen and Allana C. Lindgren (eds.), The modernist world, Rutledge, London, pp.145-152.( ISBN 976-0415-84503-8).
- Sanathanan, T., 2015, ‘புதிய அடையாளத்தின் உருவாக்கம்: நல்லூர் கந்தசாமி கோயில் முகமண்டபம்’ (Making of New Identity: Muga Mandhapam architecture of Nallur Kandasamy Kovil),in C. Rajani (ed.) சிங்கை ஆரம் (Singai Ahram),Nallur Divisional Cultural Organization, Nallur, pp 201-208 ( ISBN 978-955-7778-00-6)
- Sanathanan, T., 2010, ‘ஒற்றைப்பாதையில் தனிப் பயணம்: வெங்கட் சாமிநாதனின் காண்பிக்கலைகள் பற்றிய எமுத்துக்கள்’, (Lonely travel in a single road: Venkat Saminathan’s writngs on Visual Art) , in P,Akilan, Dhilip Kumar, Sathyamurthy (eds.),வெங்கட் சாமிநாதன்: வாதங்களும் விவாதங்களும் (Venkat Saminathan: Arguments and Debates), Sandhya Publication, Chennai, pp.263-274.
- Shanaathanan, T., 2010, ‘Visual art in Jaffna: a register from the periphery’, in Kasprychi Sylvia S. & Doris I. Stambrau (eds.), Artful resistance: contemporary art from Sri Lanka, ZKF Publishers, Altenstadt, pp.39-46. ( ISBN 978-3-9811620-2-8)
- Shanaathanan, T., 2009, ‘Painting the artist’s self: location, relocation and metamorphosis’, in R. Cheran (ed.) Pathways of dissent, Tamil nationalism in Sri Lanka, Sage, New Delhi, pp.93-106.
- Sanathanan, T., 2007, ‘தமிழர் ஓவியக்கலை’ (Painting of the Tamils), in K.Sivathamby. (ed.), தமிழர் கலைகள் (Art Heritage of Tamils), Zurich, International Institute of Tamil Arts, Zurich, pp.158-177.
- Sanathanan,T., 1997, ‘’கறுப்பு வெள்ளையினிடையே’: கே. எம். ஆதிமுலத்தின் கோட்டுப்படங்கள்’’ (Between Black and White; K.M . Adimoolams Drawings)’, in Between the lines, Values Art Foundation, Chennai.
Books
Sanathanan, T, 2025, Migrated Styles/ Connected Histories: Murals in Jaffna, Jaffna.
- Sanathanan, T, 2021, தாகூரின் யாழ்ப்பாண வருகை: கலை, அடையாளம், கருத்தாடல் (Tagore ’s Jaffna Visit: Art, Identity and Discourse) Kumaran Book House, Colombo. (ISBN 978-955-659-719-b).
- Sanathanan, T 2018, நவீனத்துவமும் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் காண்பியக்கலைகளும், 1920-1990 (Modernity and Visual Arts in Jaffna, 1920-1990), Kumaran Book House, Colombo. (ISBN 978-955-651-619-7).
Text Books
- Sanathanan, T 2020, மேற்கத்தேய நவீனவாதம்: ஓர் அறிமுகம்-ஓவியம், சிற்பம், கட்டடம் (Western Modernism: An Introduction, Painting, Sculpture, Architecture), Kumaran Book House: Colombo. (ISBN 978-955-659-705-9).
Artist Books
- Shanaathanan, T, Azeez, A, H, Cader, M, Gunarathne, A, Mangalanayagam N, Nilanthan, Rajakaruna, A, Sidaralingam, A, Thenuwara C & Vasuki K 2019, A to z of conflict, Raking Leaves Publication, London (ISBN 978-095-566-747-3)
- Shanaathanan, T 2011, The incomplete thompu, Raking Leaves, London. (ISBN 978-0-9556674-5-9).
- Shanaathanan,T, Carder,M, Thenuwara,C, Weerasinghe, J 2008, The one year drawing project: May 2005-October 2007, Raking Leaves. London & Colombo. (ISBN 978-955-659-705-9)
Edited Books
- Sanathanan, T (ed.) Ahilan, P (co-ed.) 2007, இலங்கைச் சமூகத்தையும் பண்பாட்டையும் வாசித்தல்: தெரிவுசெய்யப்பட்ட கட்டுரைகள், மூன்றாவது தொகுதி: 2000-2005. (Reading Sri Lankan Culture and Society: Selected Articles. Second Volume:2000-2005) Colombo Institute, Colombo. (ISBN 955-3493-09-5).
- Sanathanan, T., Ahilan, P (eds.), 2007, இலங்கைச் சமூகத்தையும் பண்பாட்டையும் வாசித்தல்: தெரிவுசெய்யப்பட்ட கட்டுரைகள், இரண்டாவது தொகுதி: 1980-1999. (Reading Sri Lankan Culture and Society: Selected Articles. Second Volume: 1980-1999) Colombo Institute, Colombo. (ISBN 955-3493-10-9).
Edited Conference Proceedings
- Sanathanan, T., Abdur- Rahman, Ayesha (eds.) 2018, Tradition or trans/formation: craft, practice and discourse, Conference Proceeding, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna, Jaffna (ISBN 978-955-0585-42-7).
- Sanathanan, T (ed.) 2016, Towards a greener future: university of Jaffna international research conference; Conference Proceeding, University of Jaffna, Jaffna (ISBN 955058511-5).
Member of University/ Faculty Committee
- Member -University Curriculum and Evaluation Committee (18/ 09/2021-17/09/2023)
- Coordinator-Arts Faculty Forum (Three years from 29/10/2020)
- Co- Chair- Curriculum Development, Revision and Monitoring Committee, Faculty of Arts( Appointed on 31/08/2020)
- Member -Quality Assurance Committee- Faculty of Graduate Studies (16/05/2017-15/06/2020)
- Member- Board of Study in Languages and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Graduate Studies (from 01/04/2014 to 31.03.2017 and from 01/04/2017 to 31/03/2020).
- Member – University Research Committee (28/03/2017 to 27/ 03/2020).
- Member – Curriculum development, revision and monitoring committee, Faculty of Arts (09/12/2019)
- Member- Committee on proposal writing for bifurcation of Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Social Sciences (Appointment dated 04/12/2019)
- Member- Committee on curriculum development for MA in Cultural Studies (Appointment dated 31/07/2019)
- Member -University Business Linkage Cell (UBL Cell) of Faculty of Graduate Studies (from 08/03/2019)
- Member- Internal Quality Assurance Cell- Faculty of Arts 19/02/2015-19/02/2017) ( 20/07/17-22/11/2018)
- Member- Interim Committee of the Gender Cell, University of Jaffna (2017-2018)
- Member – Pioneer Committee of the Gender Equity and Equality Cell of University of Jaffna (01/10/2017- 2018)
- Member-Committee on proposal writing for the creation ofMedia Studies Department (Appointment dated 11/12/2015)
- Member – Programme Committee of Staff Training (PCST) Staff Development Centre (2012-2013).
Member of National / International Committees
Member of Tamil Studies Global Academic Advisory Board, University of Toronto, Canada (2025-current)
Member of the Council of Regents of the National Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (NCAS) (21 July 2023-1 June 2026)
Member of Expert Committee on Establishing the Reconciliation Memorial, Government of Sri Lanka (2023)
- Member-Standing Committee on Gender Equity and Equality in Higher Education, UGC (September 2015 – September 2018)
- Member- National Arts Council of Sri Lanka (From 01.01.2016 to 31.12.2018)
- Member- International Advisory Board of Tamil Scholars for Tamil Archive and Library Collection, Toronto University, Scarborough.
- Member- Board of Management of Northern Provincial Tourism Bureau, (From 05.02.2020 to 31.05.2021)
- Member, Committee to Evaluate Murals for Exhibition Gallery of National Archive. Department of Archives, Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs (2021)
- Member- Committee on Deciding the Methodology for Identification of National Heritage of Sri Lanka. Ministry of National Heritage, Performing Art and Rural Art Promotion, Government of Sri Lanka (2020-21)
- Member-Three-member Committee to assist in the translation of curricula materials in general education, National Institute of Education, Maharagama (08.07.2019)
Post graduate supervision
M.A in Cultural Studies (Batch III, 2019-2020)
- 1. Mr.A. Bastian: (MACS 105) ‘ஈழகேசரி பத்திரிகை விளம்பரங்கள்: யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் நவீனத்துவமும் பண்பாட்டு மாற்றமும்’
- 2. Miss. A. Briyanthy (MACS 106): ‘போர் நினைவுச்சின்னங்களும் எதிர்ப்பு அரசியலும், தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்ட நினைவுச்சின்னங்களை அடிப்படையாகக்கொண்ட ஒரு பண்பாட்டியல் ஆய்வு’
- 3. Mrs.R. Reka (MACS 119): ‘தென்மராட்சிப்பிரதேகத்தை அடிப்படையாகக்கொண்டு காலனியமும் உள்ளுர்க்கட்டடக்கலை மரபும்’
- 4. Mr.S. Sivakumar (MACS 124): ‘உணவகங்களும் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் உணவுப்பண்பாடும்’
Mphil in Art History
Sewwandika Fernando (awardered in 2022): ‘Representation of Male Body in Sri Lankan Art: An Analytical Study based on the Works by David Paynter’
Interdepartmental and Inter faculty Services
Home Economics( Interior Design 2004)
Art and Design (Composition, 2013)
Media Studies (Magazine Journalism, 2017)
Media Studies (Magazine Journalism, 2018)
Resource person for a lecture series on Seminar on Research Methodology, Faculty of Graduate Studies (05.08.2017-10.09,2017)
Resource Person for workshop on Gender Equality & Equity and SGVB, CGEE, 3rd year Students of Faculty of Arts University of Jaffna (5th, 6th, 7th and 8th July 2018)
Resource Person for awareness programme on Gender Equality & Equity and SGVB, CGEE, University of Jaffna (28.04.2021)
Inter Faculty teaching
M.A Cultural Studies (Art and Culture, and Culture and information technology in 2003 (Batch I) and for the course units MCS 10102 (Introduction to Cultural Studies), MCS 10602 (Research Methodology), MCS20203 (Art and Culture) and MCS 20503 (Sri Lankan Expressive culture) for M.A Cultural Studies 2017/2018 (Batch III) )
Resource Person for workshop on Gender Equality & Equity and SGVB for non-academic Staff and Student Councillors of Killinochchi Campus, Organized by CGEE, University of Jaffna (2008)
Resource Person for workshop on Gender Equality & Equity and SGVB, CGEE, 1st year Students of Faculty of Allied Sciences, University of Jaffna( 0/08/2021)
- Contributor, 2006, Glossary of Technical Terms in Fine Arts, Music and Aesthetics, Department of Official Languages, Sri Lanka.
- Co-founder: Sri Lankan Archive for Contemporary Art, Architecture and Design, Jaffna in 2013
Resource Person
- Resource person for awareness programme on Gender Equality & Equity and SGVB, CGEE, University of Jaffna (28.04.2021).
- Resource person -NIE Curriculum development for the Subject –Art (From 2014 to 2021).
- Educator for Workshop with Art College Students in Chennai, Organized by Kochi Students Biennial, India, 2018.
- Resource person for a lecture series on Seminar on Research Methodology, Faculty of Graduate Studies (05.08.2017-10.09,2017).
- Resource person for Journey towards Gender Equity/ Equality-An Inter University Gender Festival- phase. Organized by University Grants Commission. 2 from 12-20 November 2017.
- Resource person for producing Teaching aid Videos for school art teachers, National Institute of Education, 24.10.2014.
- Resource person for Open Edit: Mobile Library Project Yangon -Myanmar, organized by Asian Art Archive, Hong Kong, 2014.
Solo Exhibitions of Painting
- Dis/Placement, Saskia Fernando Gallery, Colombo (2016)
- Mismatches, Saskia Fernando Gallery, Colombo (2011)
- Locating the Self. Paradise Road Galleries, Colombo (2006)
- Paradise Road Galleries, Colombo, Sri Lanka (2001).
- Heritage Art Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka (1998).
Group exhibitions of Visual Art (selected)
Total Landscaping (Rotation 2), Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka, Colombo (15 December 2024- 2 March 2025).
Kala: A Platform for South Asian Art, Colombo (10-28 February 2025).
Luminous Reveries, Gallery Dotwalk, New Delhi (31January -9 February 2024).
One Hundred Thousands Small Tales, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka, Colombo (2020).
- Leaving the Echo Chamber, Sharjah Art Biennale, UAE (2019)
- Days without a night, Maxmullar Bhawan, New Delhi, India (4-16 December 2018)
- ,Dhaka Art Summit, Dhaka Bangladesh (2-10 Feb 2018).
- Invitation to Action, Lahore Art Biennale, Pakistan (2017)
- Forming in the pupil of an eye, Kochi- Muziris Biennale, Kerala, India (2016)
- Insecurities: Tracing Displacement and Shelter, Museum of Modern Art, New York (2016)
- 15 Invitations, Asian Art Archive, Hong Kong (2016)
- Watch this Space: Framing the Past, untying the future” Saskia Fernando Gallery, Colombo (2015)
- Shadow Scene, Colombo Scope, An interdisciplinary Arts Festival (2015).
- War and Peace; Visual Narratives from Contemporary Sri Lanka, Lionel Wendt & Harold Pieris Galleries (2013)
- Non- Aligned, Barefoot Gallery, Colombo (2011)
- Visual Responses During the War: Selected Works of Artists, Lionel Wendt Gallery and Harold Pieris Gallery
- Border Zones: New art across cultures. Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, Canada (2010).
- One Year Drawing Project Exhibition. SAVAC. Toronto. Canada (2009).
- One Year Drawing Project Exhibition. Davi Art Foundation (2009).
- Artful Resistance: Crisis and Creativity in Sri Lanka. Museum of Ethnology, Vienna (2008-9)
- An Exhibition of Painting by 13 Artists from Jaffna. Alliance Francaise Jaffna (2004)
- Agam – Puram, An Exhibition of Visual Art, Public Library. Jaffna (2004).
- New Sri Lankan Art, Usher Gallery, U. K (2004).
- New Sri Lankan Art, October Gallery, U. K (2003)
- Kannukkul Velli, Tamil ini – 2000, Madras, South India 2000. (2000)
- Exposition 97 Exhibition of Paintings, Rabindra Bawan, New Delhi, India (1997).
- France / Sri Lanka Friendship Exhibition, Embassy of Sri Lanka in France, Paris, France (1994).
Exhibitions Curation
Side by Side, Barefoot Gallery, Colombo (3-25 October 2025).
Home/ Land, University of Exeter, UK (March 2023) Art Gallery, University of Jaffna (20-30 March 2024).
Burden of Paradise, Art Gallery, University of Jaffna (2023).
- Puni: Reed Mats by Sulaiman Archchi, Art Gallery, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna (9-18 May 2018)
- Being and Becoming, Saskia Fernando Gallery, Colombo ( 4-11 March 2018)
- Self Portraits, Saskia Fernando Gallery, Colombo (26 Jan-9Feb 2017)
- Ramani: Exhibition of book jackets by Sivasubramaniyam, Art gallery, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna (Dec 2015).
- Seven Conversations, Saskia Fernando Gallery, Colombo (10-24 July 2015).
- Anxieties: Paintings of Four Women Artists from Jaffna, Theertha Red Dot Gallery, Colombo (2014)
- Costume: Visual Art Exhibition of Pala Pothupitiya ( Art gallery, Department of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna 2010)
- Relocating Masculinities: An Exhibition of Photographs and Video Art, School of Arts and Aesthetics. Jawaharlal Nehru University. New Delhi, 2007 (Joint Curation with Srinayani Reddy, Rahul Dave & Sabih Ahmad).
- Agam – Puram: An Exhibition of Visual Art, Public Library. Jaffna, 2004 (Joint Curation with Jagath Weerasinghe).
- An Exhibition of Painting by 13 Artists from Jaffna, Alliance Francaise Jaffna (2004).
- Portrait: An Exhibition of Early Studio Photographs of Jaffna. University of Jaffna (2003).
- ‘Ravivarma’ An Exhibition of Oleograph Prints of Raja Ravivarma, University of Jaffna (2003).
- ‘Tanjavur’, An Exhibition of Iconic Glass Painting from the Houses of Jaffna. University of Jaffna (2001).
Artist Camps and Workshops
- Flying Circus, Project, Myanmar and Singapore (2013).
- Imagining Peace, Kojh, New Delhi (2010).
- Theertha International Artist work shop, Lunuganga, Sri Lanka (2003).
Artist Residency
- Asian Art Archive, Hong Kong (2018).
- Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver (2009).
- Usher Gallery, Lincoln, U. K ( 2004).