|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 1 September 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Artscope | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
New art gallery at Ahangama From batik shop to Guinness Book by Anjana Gamage "Visiki" art gallery of Walter Kulasooriya will be ceremonially opened by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse at Ahangama on September 6 at 11.00 a.m. Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Vijitha Herath will be the guest of honour.
Walter Kulasooriya never thought that the lines he drew would go for a World Record one day. But his destiny put him in the Guinness Book of World Records. Walter hailing from Naramana in the Kurunegala district was able to do his motherland proud by sketching the longest painting in the world. His painting depicting the Sinharaja forest found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1996 as it was found to be the longest painting (100 meters). In an interview with the " Artscope" Walter described how he became a painter by dint of hard work. "I received my primary education at Mahananneriya Sinhala Mixed School and then joined Christ Church Vidyalaya in Kurunegala for higher studies. I gained admission to the College of Fine Arts in 1959. Meanwhile I worked for many advertising agencies. Then I did portrait painting under the able guidance of Stanley Abeysinghe and fine honed my skills in mural paintings under Henry Dharmasena", he said. After opening a batik shop in Koggala, he spent his leisure for drawings which attracted many tourists to the shop. During the past three decades Walter has held seven art exhibitions in Sri Lanka, Austria and Germany. Now he is planning to hold his next exhibition in Germany next year. He said he was grateful to Ernst Grielenberg is a regular Austrian customer who had purchased many of his drawings. He organised Walter's Art Exhibition in Austria and now sponsoring the "Visiki" art gallery.
With the opening of the " Visiki" art gallery artists can use it free of charge to display their exhibits. He also expects to establish a fund at the gallery to assist local artists to come up in life. Walter's creations can be viewed at Deerpark Hotel in Giritale, La Kandyan Hotel in Hirassagala and Central Bank in Colombo. A small version of Guinness Book of World Records is displayed at the Deerpark Hotel in Giritale. "Former Central Bank Governor A. S. Jayawardena helped me a lot in my difficult times. He bought one of my first paintings for Rs. 2500. Abdul Rahuman of Colour Craft helped me to hold my first exhibition," he said. Walter has continuously won Presidential Awards for paintings from 1995 to 2000 organised by the Ceylon Art Society. **** Back **** |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
