Creative Spotlight | Sudheera Dissanayake
Published on 17 October 2023
Tell us a bit about who you are and what kind of creative work you do
I’m Sudheera Dissanayake (Sud), a professional artist from Sydney, going by the moniker of ‘sudjuice’. My art is influenced by my Sri Lankan heritage, Buddhist theories and transcendental experiences. Abstractly inclined, I often employ bold brush strokes and poignant tableaux in an expressionistic manner. I’ve been developing my body of work for over a decade.
In tandem, I am a committed teacher who is capable of connecting with students from all walks of life. I currently teach art at Sydney Art School and NDIS registered provider, Studio ARTES.
How does your personal history, culture or experience inform your creative work?
Ever since I was a kid I had a deep love for art, it came naturally to me, and was a much easier form of expression than words. At the early stages my inspiration stemmed from watching cartoons and observing the nature that surrounded me. I had a specialty in drawing intricate trees with leaves shaped like ping pong balls, my Mum absolutely adored it.
I suffered my first true loss at the age of 12 when my Dad had unexpectedly passed away. It’s an impossible feeling to forget, the moment is still raw and visceral to me, someone important had been taken away from me and I felt like a big part of myself had gone with him. 
Everything had changed and a lot was left unsaid. Thoughts that I had never considered as a kid would now pop into my mind – what’s the purpose of this world? Why are we born and why do we die? My suffering put me through chaos and destabilised me. Jagged teeth, contorted, wild eyed figures began to fill my notebooks, it felt like I was starting to draw from a place that could not belong. My art had taken a dark turn much to the dismay of my Mum.
Confused and constantly searching for answers. My Mum, a devoted Buddhist, would share her knowledge and would consistently have profound conversations with me about life and death. My perspective was beginning to change and I started to see things less negatively. I learnt more about the concepts of Buddhism and delved deeper into my Sri Lankan heritage. A foundation had been built and these new influences began to embody my art. Entwined with my demons, I started to find some balance, I was starting to heal.
By the time I turned 28, I learnt that we can all heal from our pain by understanding that suffering is a great energy and teacher who tells us that we need to evolve through addressing our problems and facing our demons, that way we can support ourselves and those who we love and cherish. Everything in this world is interconnected and the only way forward is through love and kindness.
We always love recommendations! Who are some other local artists we should check out?
I mentor to some incredible artists living with disabilities at an organisation called Studio ARTES, they are all so incredibly talented and unique! They are definitely the future of Australian art, please check them out on Instagram if you have the time: @studio.abdallah , @oliverfontany & @jeremy_swales.
Where can we find out more about your work and get in touch?
Website: www.sudjuice.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sudjuice