‘LOVERS’ exhibition by award winning artist Sampath Amunugama

An exhibition of drawings by award winning artist Sampath Amunugama opened at Paradise Road Galleries on 28 April. Born in 1975, Sri Lanka, he studied at the University of Kelaniya and is currently an art teacher at St. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. Sampath explains the influences that motivate him as an artist as well as his inspiration behind his exhibition:

 Q: What is your inspiration behind the series of drawings ‘LOVERS’?

A: When I began working on these drawings, I did not intend to conceptualise them but rather related them to my life’s circumstances and emotions. Soon I realised my brush strokes seem to draw more towards love and affection; hence I call this series of drawings ‘LOVERS’.

Q: How do you see yourself in comparison to other local contemporary artists? 

A: The medium I use is irrelevant to my work. What is unique about my drawings is the power of my brush strokes and my ability to create strokes with speed as I try to convey my emotions of that moment instantly. 

Q: What advice would you give to young, emerging artists in Sri Lanka?

A: An artist must effectively experiment and get to know himself and his abilities. This paves way for discovering their own unique style of working and expressing themselves, that come naturally to them. A painting or drawing should not be merely a piece of decoration but an expression of the artist.

The exhibition will remain open until 25 May. Open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight at Paradise Road Galleries, 2 Alfred House Road Colombo 03. For details contact +94 11 2582162 or [email protected].