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Saturday Dec 28, 2024
Saturday, 2 September 2023 01:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Three remarkable artistes, Prasanna Weerakkody, Lester Perera and Lalith Senanayake unite once more to unfurl the artistic sequel, ‹Unveiling Unseen Hues 2.› The grandeur of this exhibition will grace the artistic panorama from 9 to 11 September 2023, and unfold at the esteemed halls of the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo 7.
Prepare to be captivated by the magnificence of unveiling “Unseen colours 2,” a harmonious collaborative exposition featuring the artistic prowess of Prasanna Weerakkody, Lester Perera and Lalith Senanayake.
Embarking on diverse paths within the realm of artistry, the trio emerge as luminaries in their distinct domains. Prasanna Weerakkody, reemerging on the exhibition stage after a hiatus of two decades, last showcased his brilliance in “Unseen Colours” at the Colombo Museum.
Prasanna Weerakkody:
Despite his autodidactic journey, Prasanna derives his artistic inspiration from his father, the late Kalasuri Kalamanya Ariyawansa Weerakkody, a revered artist, sculptor, and cinema art director. Equally influential is his mother Kamala, a distinguished art educator renowned for her contributions to institutions such as, Samudradevi Balika Vidyalaya, Nugegoda, Mahanama College, Colombo, and Musaeus College, Colombo.
An impassioned naturalist, Weerakkody’s initial foray into the art world was marked by his prowess as a wildlife painter, earning accolades for book and poster illustrations. His rise as a professional artist at the tender age of 16, creating book illustrations to augment his pocket money, is noteworthy. His artistic journey took a transformative turn around the year 2000 when he transitioned from wildlife art to capturing the tapestry of Sri Lankan history and ancient lifestyles.
The pinnacle of his journey thus far was the solo exhibition “Kindred,” held in 2002 at the National Art Gallery. This exceptional showcase garnered overwhelming success, particularly for his historical paintings. This pivotal moment heralded Weerakkody’s unwavering commitment to historical reconstruction paintings, defined by meticulous research and themes steeped in fantasy and mythology. His artistry graces esteemed public spaces, including the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi, India, and several defense establishments, alongside numerous cherished private collections.
Weerakkody’s artistic skill is exemplified through his mastery of acrylics on canvas, yielding expansive works as large as 12×6 feet. His creative canvas extends to encompass oil and watercolour mediums, occasionally punctuated by ventures into sculpture, digital painting, graphic design, and 3D modeling/sculpting. His diverse endeavours span roles as a production designer in cinema, a concept artist in the realms of gaming and product development, and an architectural designer curating themed projects with precision. His art finds resonance in the virtual realm, traversing social media platforms and the boundless expanse of the internet. Evident in his actions is his equal dedication to environmental conservation and the revival of marine ecosystems in Sri Lanka.
Lester Perera:
The distinguished name of Lester Perera resonates in Sri Lanka’s artistic circles as a revered avian artist. His impressive résumé boasts over a dozen solo exhibitions that have graced both local and international stages. Recognised across the pages of diverse magazines and journals, Perera stands as a dedicated ornithologist and steadfast naturalist whose ardour for the natural world ignited in his early years, manifested in intricate sketches of life itself.
Driven by an innate passion and self-guided prowess, Perera’s specialty lies in capturing the avian world within its natural habitat. His canvases are imbued with authenticity, a testament to his extensive field research on avian species. He masterfully wields mediums ranging from acrylics to watercolours and the finesse of pen and ink, forging a legacy of artistic brilliance.
Transcending his artistic endeavours, Perera’s post-academic pursuits led him to contribute to the establishment of a sea turtle research and conservation station in Bundala, under the aegis of the National Aquatic Resources Agency (NARA). It was during this phase that he documented a remarkable beaked whale, later identified as the inaugural sighting of Blainville’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) within Sri Lankan waters.
His purview extends far beyond borders, encompassing the expanse of India where he delved into the subcontinent’s avian tapestry. His global sojourns span Thailand, the Maldives, Kenya, Uganda, and Taiwan. As an ornithologist of repute, Perera’s illustrious career spanning 28 years has been marked by leading specialised birding tours across Sri Lanka, India, and the Andaman Islands. His enthusiasm extends to the auditory realm as a fervent wildlife sound recordist, capturing the diverse calls of over 400 Indian bird species.
Lalith Senanayake:
Lalith Senanayake’s creative journey was profoundly influenced by his father’s engagement in automobile restoration and his accompanying workshop. The nascent years of his life were steeped in the environment of his father’s work, fostering an affinity for discarded materials such as springs and wire, which he ingeniously transformed into new life. This initial spark grew over time, igniting a lasting fascination for overlooked objects.
Delving into the realm of sculpture, Senanayake found himself drawn to the inherent strength of metal as a pivotal medium. The quest for suitable materials was not devoid of challenges, and it was through the support of his brother that he triumphed in sourcing essential components.
Senanayake’s artistic portfolio encompasses a rich tapestry of projects, ranging from the revival of ancient temple art and cinematic pursuits to draughtsmanship and graphic design. His accolades extend to his identity as a cartoonist, crowned with the prestigious Journalism Award for Excellence in 1996. His creations have graced international exhibitions and esteemed galleries, gaining prominence through features in distinguished journals and magazines.
Notably, in a remarkable collaboration with his wife and children, Senanayake achieved international acclaim in 2019 by crafting a life-sized elephant model from plastic waste retrieved from Colombo’s western coast.
However, the ambitious endeavour of erecting a monumental 150-foot whale structure on the Nilaveli beach met an untimely halt due to the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic. Had it materialised, this monumental creation would have stood as a pioneering marvel, a testament to his visionary creativity on a global scale.
