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| Thursday, 4 July 2002 |
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Semage's 21st exhibition in August by Arundathie Abeysinghe The reputed artist Jayasiri Semage, subsequent to his successful exhibitions in Nepal last year and in Geneva this year, will hold his 21st local exhibition at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery in August. Semage through his exhibitions and other creations, particularly in the open air, has earned a name as an artist with an outstanding local touch.His creations may be seen in the Buddhist Viharas of Malaysia, Singapore and Penang and the shrine room of the People's Bank Headquarters in Colombo and at the Women's Headquarters of the Sri Lanka Army.His work is on permanent display at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. He has had many solo-exhibitions, both locally and abroad (ranging from Spain and USSR, to Japan and Korea), the creation of window displays, temple murals, interior decor, permanent decorations etc. have made Semage stand out among contemporary local artists. He has also specialised in the creation of Pandols (decorative archways). They are really stupendous works; the one erected to mark the 50th anniversary of Sri Lanka's political independance being over 40 metres long and over six metres in height. Semage has also been influenced by Picasso, but it is more in his cubist style than content.He being, a devout Buddhist following the Middle Path, also paints religious themes."Glorious Victory", which depicts Buddha's Enligtenment as a victory over the demonic forces of Mara in almost carricature style, makes it easy to communicate to the masses.Infact, his style is traditional but modern, figurative, linearly defined and precise... His pigments are soft earth and pastel-toned. The figures are curvaceous and easy on the eyes, harmonious compositions with rhythmic designs. This considerable record of activity is reflective of the intense appreciation of his works by the local and foreign connoisseurs over a few decades.Semage is an inborn artist and it was with this talent that he passed all six examinations held by the Royal Academy of Arts, London with Distinction and held his solo-exhibition as a school boy. Semage was born in a small fishing village in the South and as a self-taught artist is not ashamed of his roots. "As a native villager I've retained many picturesque images from my childhood. Village men and women, as well as children, still linger in my memory" recalls Semage. He has learnt a few things from a few people and places, just like any other artist - an inescapable phenomenon of particilarly the present times. But he is different - he is Semage - artist of Sri Lanka, and of the world as well. When his exhibition commences in Colombo, connoisseurs in thousands would be made aware of this truth in no small measure.
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