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Weerackoon's exhibition at Swansea:
Memories of a painter
Gwen Herat
A Sri Lankan domiciled in the U.K, Ricky Weerackoon has lived the
better part of his life in the picturesque Swansea of the South Wales
where visual and performing arts have a big say. He left Sri Lanka as a
teenager but not withoutglorious artistic talents the nation is blessed
with.
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Winter Life in Swansea - Oil on canvas |
After his studies, he moved over to South Wales from London where he
has lived for decades with his family. After an early retirement because
of a severe back pain, Weerackoon picked up his brush for leisure. But
with time he found that he had the talent to go ahead.
Without delay, he took classes from the experts and had a couple of
exhibits along with other painters from Swansea. He was much encouraged
when his paintings sold and some went on cards during the festival
season. Recently, he held a one-man exhibition in the Foyer of the Grand
Theatre in Swansea where many of his paintings were sold.
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Fishermen at sea - Oil on canvas |
He has not been influenced by British art... not as much as with
Afro-Asian art and keeps still in touch with Sri Lankan scenic beauty
which he lauds in some of his paintings.
During his many visits to Sri Lanka, he has picked many books on Sri
Lanka art to maintain what they do and what they paint but is never
influenced by their art. On the contrary, Weerackoon 'shoots' the scenic
beauty, people and fauna so that they are fresh in his heart when he
wants to paint something from Sri Lanka. He is greatly influenced by our
temples and the heritage within them.
To painters like Weerackoon, there is something like a common aim or
inspiration when it comes to expressing the new awareness of beauty that
surrounds them. For them light is the impression in the paintings and
the sensation caused by light and the painter who records its accuracy,
emerge as the best of the calibre.
The bounding lines like perspective makeshifts the shadows if the
painter confines himself to a singular colour to an exceptional one-colour
painting. The palette will go wild when many colours are used.
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Home after work - Oil on canvas |
Certain practices are anathema with mixed colours and colourless
shadows. It's a technique that ultimately surface visual sensation.
Presumply, Weerackoon has been aware of these techniques when he painted
some of the exhibits. His doctrine has enriched his mind with a pitch of
excitement and no doubt Weerackoon tilts towards glorious fiery colours.
Winter life in Swansea - The sombre, dark colour shading into lighter
daubs is typical of winter. The snow tracks and leafless tress is like a
ghost town.
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As I remember Sri Lanka - Oil on canvas |
Home after work - In fiery burning red, the whole scene is aflame
with fire as the sun sets in the distant skies as women return home
after work. It contains typical Afro-asian effect.
Fishermen at sea - Typical Sri Lankan scene which Weerackoon has seen
over and over again. He captures the boats anchoring into the golden
beach. |
