A little piece of London that is forever ours

A marvellous 'square' on a Martin Russell hypoteneuse:

If you don't visit Russell Square in Bloomsbury, London, when you are in England, you are certainly missing out on a large wedge of Sri Lanka that stands as a beacon to the beginnings of modern period of Lanka-London art and literature.

The Lankan art world will tell you all about Martin Russell who founded the '43 Group Colombo-London, projected the Group worldwide, and helped us, in the criticism of paintings as a discipline, to come of age.

Martin founded the Colombo-London '43 Group with the launching of his book, 'George Keyt' in 1950; the staging of several art exhibitions featuring the work of the Lankan Group; and the sale of his paintings through Sotheby's and Christie's. I must tell you of the man first, for it was so much of his destiny that he had to come to Ceylon and come to be so involved with the nine painters of our '43 Group.

Martin Russell was the first son of Gilbert Russell. Gilbert was the third son of Lord Arthur, brother of Francis Charles Hastings, the ninth Duke of Bedford, and the diplomat, Odo Russell who was later made Lord Ampthil.

Both Odo and Francis were the nephews of Lord John Russell, and it will be interesting to note that Lord John's cousin was Lord Torrington, Governor of Ceylon from 1847-1850. Lord John was also Britain's PM and introduced the Reform Bill in 1832 that was a pointer to the introduction of Universal Suffrage in Ceylon in 1931.

Martin Russell loved this country, and also our art. He was educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge, where he read Economics. He served in the King's Royal Rifle Corps and from 1939-1940 was Assistant Private Secretary to the Right Honourable Duff Cooper. He continued as Private Secretary when, in 1941, Cooper was made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and was sent out by Winston Churchill to report on the British Governments in the Far East, with an office in Singapore.

Martin Russell was with Cooper in Singapore, but in 1942, Cooper returned to England, while Martin remained to close the Singapore office and withdraw in the face of the Japanese invasion. Cooper was made First Viscount Norwich in 1952. As for Martin, he made his way to Ceylon on March 13, 1942, and here, he served as Captain in the staff of Lord Mountbatten at the South Asia Command Headquarters at Peradeniya, that stood at the site that had been set apart for the Peradeniya University.

It was in 1942 that he met Lionel Wendt and was inspired by that impressionist and post-impressionist artist who raised the '43 Group in Ceylon.

Martin's knowledge of modern painting was derived from his mother. He enthusiastically responded to the group and saw that our own art was both of international quality and stature.

He held an abiding interest in the history of this country and in November 2003, on the 60th anniversary of the first '43 Group exhibition, recalled that the show was, to him, memorable.

By that time he had known and loved this country for 61 years. One of his own paintings show him at a chessboard - a game that he was keen on since his years at Eton.

In June this year, the 'Russell Square' in Bloomsbury throbbed with life and the gleaming shards of memory. The Square bears the name of Martin's forbears and is now one of the most acclaimed destinations in London.

Martin died on December 23, 2003 at his home in Dorset, leaving as it were, an unending contribution to us, for his dream of bringing the constellation of the nine '43 Group painters to be of world fame, came true.

Mr. N. Sivasambu, Secretary of the '43 Group Colombo-London, could not allow the Martin Russell commemoration to pass unsung... and so Russell Square and the 'Friends of Russell Square' marked the day in the Square gardens on June 19 this year as well as at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies. The illustrated seminar on 'Martin Russell and the '43 Group' was prepared by Neville Weeraratne.

A monograph, 'Martin Russell: Appreciation and Tribute' was edited by Sivasambu and carried biographical sketches and a memoir by Laura Beresford, Martin's daughter; Martin's writings on George Keyt; on George Claessen; writings on the '43 Group; a seminar paper by Neville Weeraratne together with his obituary on Martin and a list of illustrations. Also included are notes on sculptor Tissa Ranasinghe; Lionel Wendt; Keyt's translation of 'Jayadeva'; Cedric de Silva on Keyt; remembering Ivan Peries; the formation of the Colombo-London '43 Group; Senaka Bandaranayake and Shamil Wanigaratne on Martin; and a host of other appreciations and greetings.

As you know, Neville Weeraratne studied under Richard Gabriel and Ivan Peries and has written ' '43 Group: A Chronicle' and 'The Art of Richard Gabriel'.

At the outdoor Square ceremony, sculptor Tissa Ranasinghe planted a Tulip tree - a tree Martin was particular fond of. But let me also tell you of Russell Square. It holds open-air art galleries, and there are the 'Friends of Russell Square' formed in 1966 and headquartered in 'The Cafe' in the gardens.

There is a lot of environmental effort to keep 'green' and the Camden Borough of London presented the Square with the Green Flag Award.

Russell Square is not only a lasting memorial to Martin, but a place where all the simple delights of life await one.

There is a gardening club, the determination to cut out all pollution, an air-monitoring station, even specially organised coach trips for visitors to Woburn Abbey and Safari Park; to Brighton and the Pavilion; and Winchester cathedral.

There is also Tavistock Trust for Aphasia that helps stroke victims and tells that a stroll in Russell's Square park will do them a world of good. The Cafe is open all year round and of course, there is St. George's Church and the Baptist Church.

Martin Russel can never be forgotten - and the art world of Sri Lanka must not forget either. He was a man who held this island in deep honour and worked tirelessly to promote our art and culture.

- Carl Muller