Prof. Jayawickrama's gifted proficiency in art and sculpture

by Anjana Gamage

In French it is called 'Repousse in copper' which means embossed in copper.

Could you believe all these neatly done copper portraits, unique creations of laid lighting and the other creative pieces of marquetry (mix of copper and wood) we are featuring today are outcomes of the hands of well-known physician Prof. U. S. Jayawickrama.

After I was informed of this doctor's unique talent by Mr. Kiththampahuwa who is working with us at ANCL, we visited Prof. Jayawickrama at his residence at Bauddhaloka Mawatha, where I came to observe one's gifted proficiency in art and sculpture.

Simple and soft-spoken Prof. Jayawickrama unfolded his story.

Jayawickrama hails from Galle, attended Richmond College, Galle and later moved to Royal College for higher studies. He entered Colombo Medical College in 1949.

The Diabetic Association in Sri Lanka was formed by Prof. Jayawickrama as the President and Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya as the Secretary in 1982. Later with the grants from Canadian Friendship Association and the land offered by former President late R. Premadasa, a National Diabetic Centre was set up in 1994 at Rajagiriya which is now running very well.

"During my school career I was interested in Art. Aubrey Collette was my art master at the Royal College. I was used to do lots of oil paintings at that time. When an art circle named '42 group' was formed by well-known artists George Keyt, Harry Peris and Deraniyagala, I was only 13 years. However they organised an exhibition titled 'War effort' in 1942 during the world war period and I displayed three of my paintings for it. Several of my paintings of that exhibition are hanging on the walls of Royal College to this day", he said.

"I had my own style of painting. But during my five-year period at the Medical College, it was a 'Blank era' for me in the side of art. My first appointment was to Kalutara Nagoda Hospital.

I have worked under various surgeons and did my internship in Colombo. I have served in the Colombo General Hospital for more than 20 years. Worked under Prof. P. B. Fernando for two years from 1955. I got married in 1959 and went to England for further studies", he said.

As a lifetime partner he chose Preani Jayawickrama who was herself interested in art and was good in tapestry and faberge art as well.

They returned to the island in 1964 and Jayawickrama was appointed as a Resident Physician and was the first physician in the Nuwara Eliya District from 1966 to 1970.

"We had enough time to make use and create new ideas through paintings during the period we were at Nuwara Eliya.

Preani went for some classes in Copper creations during that time. One day she was trying her hands with making a female face of a copper creation at home. I thought to assist her and was able to make the face better than what she had made. That was my first involvement in copper creations in 1985", said artistic doctor.

A portrait of Monalisa that he has done on copper is one among the many best creations one could observe on display at his residence.

So far he has done 40 copper portraits of renowned persons among them were President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Deshamanya Lalith Kothalawala, Prof. G. L. Peiris and Nihal Jayawickrama.

Apart from the portraits of living persons he has also depicted an instance of Gilanopasthanaya by the Buddha and several other copper images on Tharadevi and Nataraja too.

Combining wood and copper is another unique feature of his creations.

"This is called marquetry. No one has done it before. Sometimes it takes a month to complete the creation that you are involved with", he said.

Prof. Jayawickrama is a master of stainglass creations as well. "When I was in Australia, I attended a course on laid lighting.

The glasses used in this art (cathedral) are imported from overseas. However one should use his own exclusive designs to get the maximum beauty out of it", he said.

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Avurudu sweetmeats sale at Lakpahana

A Sinhala Avurudu sweetmeats sale will be held in the traditional style at Lakpahana on Monday 11th and Tuesday April 12, 2005 from 9.30 a.m.

Sometime back, when such exhibitions and sales were organised by Lakpahana, it was noted that these sweetmeats differ in making and preparation and also in presentation from province to province.

This festive sale at Lakpahana this time, will have konde kevun, athirasa, mun kevun, aasmee, kokis, aluwa and all other known Sri Lankan sweets available - all home made.

It is an opportunity for us to maintain these traditional customs by having these sweetmeats at our meals at this festive time, very particularly the elders could help the young people to get used to eating these sweetmeats and know how they are prepared.

Much trouble is taken in the preparation, with special utensils and moulds to make these sweetmeats. Also treacle is used for the sweetness.

The preparation of aasmee is not only a fascinating craft, but takes a considerable amount of time to prepare, says press release.