|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 1 September 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Artscope | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Sarath marks three decades of creativity by Kalakeerthi Edwin Ariyadasa
Well-known painter S. H. Sarath will hold an exhibition of his paintings on September 8 and 9 at the Lionel Wendt Harold Pieris Gallery, Colombo 7. The exhibition will be open from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Wizened, weather-battered and white - thatched S. H. Sarath is a compelling presence in the main-stream of Sri Lankan Art. Over the last three decades, he has continued to display his works, with the regularity of a natural force - say, for instance, like the monsoons. With each public appearance, through his paintings, he would add a new dimension to the field of art appreciation, by expanding the vision of art-lovers. His art, has a way of nudging the spectator with new perceptions, as a Zen Koan would do. The search for the meanings of his works, twists one's heart and mind into a complicated knot, as fathoming his implications imposes a strain and tension on the average viewer. Ethereal dream
In some of the works he has done recently one could perceive an attempt to communicate an ethereal dream - as it were. This observation applies quite vehemently to his painting of a series of reddish-brown trees, that seems to spring from a range of undulating hills, which could even be interpreted as cloud-formations. The central objects are framed by a bluish arch, imparting to the total picture, the quality of a view from a window. The archer-frame, elevates the central figures into a high surreal context. S. H. Sarath's painting of a blue pond, framed by what could be construed as a sandy landscape, possesses this "feel" of an ethereal dream. The slender and tall trees in the foreground and a few trees in distant background, produce a three-dimensional effect. The blue pond seems as if it has been scooped out the surrounding stretches of sand. This synthesis of dream and reality emerges as S. H. Sarath's latest creative preoccupation and his means of establishing a refined personal style. New articulation While moving along avenues and corridors of new articulation, he returned to his beginnings, adopting a fresh attitude towards them. In some of the works done by S. H. Sarath in recent times, he turns upon those early motifs, inspired by his childhood experience of traditional temple murals.
These have now acquired a new incarnation as he gives a surprising twist to some of the inherited forms of artistic expressions. In the current display of his works, he depicts a couple in an intimate erotic embrace. The lines of this piece of painting ring with a vague echo of the flourishes in mural paintings. But his utilization of these traditional metaphor of painting is sharply and vividly astonishing. Observed closely, the breasts of the female in this erotic portrayal resemble human faces, infusing a depth of profound feeling to the total work. In most of his human figures, the eyes do not generally dominate the facial expression. But in this dramatic statement of high eroticism, the eyes of the female figure are aglow with an inner passion. Over and above his formal and 'traditional' paintings, S. H. Sarath, resorts to the medium of monochrome drawings, when the mood of sarcasm and irony grips his imagination. Hell In one of these, he records a scene taking place in Hell. The keepers of that nether regions, deploy ferocious dogs to hunt and torture those who are condemned to Hell. In S. H. Sarath's drawing, a group arrives from Sri Lanka (unmistakable because they wave the Lion flag) and the demonic keeper of that place do not take a chance with those newcomers.
As a precaution they vaccinate the hunting dogs against hydrophobia, lest they should acquire the disease from the visiting Sri Lankans. Though seemingly harsh and unpalatable, S. H. Sarath makes a telling ironical point about the state of our republic. In yet another, equally disturbing monochrome drawing, gods in heaven subject visitors to a security check. One could imagine how terrorism has risen to high heavens. S. H. Sarath's creativity is an ever-renewing reservoir of surprising inventiveness. His exhibition is without any doubt, a lesson in viewing, to discriminating spectators. **** Back **** |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
