A tribute to women

Saturday, 22 February 2014 11:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Art exhibition by Henrietta Wickremasingha An exhibition of art, ‘A tribute to women’ by Sri Lankan-Australian artist ‘Chutson’ or Henrietta Wickremasingha, will be on display at the Lionel Wendt Gallery on 14 and 15 March 2014. The exhibition showcases a collection of oil and acrylic paintings portraying women of all ages and forms from around the world. The pieces reflect a multitude of ethnicities, cultures and human emotions, giving special focus to women and the female form.

Chutson has captured an infinite number of visuals from her travels around the world. Wanting to share and express what she has seen and experienced, she used the canvas as her mode of expression; resulting in a portfolio of many oil paintings. Chutson says her inner most thoughts and emotions have been laid bare on her canvases. When asked why she chose to mostly focus on the female figure, she mentions that she sees the female body as an art form in itself, with amazing curves and softness. “Femininity, as I see it, is the ability that women around the world posses, to endure physically and emotionally,” says Chutson. Though similar in form, the body changes and differs as women adapt and conform to social and cultural norms, religious beliefs and environments in different countries, regions and eras. The effect of these compelling factors on the female form is what the artist endeavours to showcase through her masterpieces. Indonesian artist Indyra was her inspiration, says Chutson: “It was Indyra who gave me the opportunity to exhibit a few of my pieces in 2008/09 at a group exhibition in Jakarta.” This was the beginning of her career which paved the way to pursue a lifelong passion – helping her become the artist that she is today.