This episode features a conversation with Irushi Tenekoon, an award-winning animator from Sri Lanka. Dee and Irushi discuss her journey into animation, her work on 'The Animate Her Series', and her film about Minnette de Silva, a pioneering female architect in 1950s Sri Lanka. Despite her innovative approach to social housing and significant contributions, Minnette's work has been undervalued until now and conversations cover what Minnette did for architecture. The episode emphasises the importance of highlighting Sri Lankan stories and talents on international platforms to challenge mainstream narratives and celebrate local heroes.

Summary

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:47 Meet Arushi TennoCon: Animator and Educator

02:44 Arushi's Creative Journey

05:53 The Animator Series: Celebrating Heroines

16:25 The Minette de Silva Project

36:15 The Importance of Diverse Narratives

39:27 Current and Future Projects

Irushi Tenekoon is an award winning animator, illustrator and educator based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She teaches animation to undergraduates part time at the Academy of Design in Colombo and spends the rest of her time working on illustrating and animating stories from Sri Lanka and South Asia out of her home studio. While starting out as a self taught artist, she recently completed her MA in Animation at the Royal College of Art in London supported by a Chevening Scholarship from the UK’s FCDO. Her notable work includes: 

• 83 A very short film (2016)
• The Animate Her series (2019-2022) 
• Is This an Architectural Documentary? (2023) 

To learn more about her work visit www.irusdedoodles.com

Title: Sri Lanka: Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting Pot
Host: Dee Gibson — Sri Lankan-born, award winning designer based in London and founder of boutique hotel Kalukanda House in Sri Lanka. www.kalukandahouse.com | instagram @deegibson2017 & @kalukandahouse

Podcast Themes:

• Modern Sri Lankan identity and culture
• Architecture, art, and design
• Sustainability and heritage
• Diaspora experiences and storytelling

Why Listen:
This podcast offers deep, intelligent storytelling about Sri Lanka’s evolving identity — a blend of East and West, ancient and modern. It’s for listeners who love culture, travel, architecture, and thoughtful conversation.