Reflections in colour
Fascinated by water - Jayani Pinnawela pays tribute to its splendour
Reviewed by GWEN HERAT
‘Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink’ so wrote a famous
writer but to Jayani Pinnawela, water is her redeemer. Lakes, rivers,
streams, brooks, and water-ways simply beckon her.
She pays homage to man’s essential survivor that is water. This was
evident at her solo exhibition, Reflections in colour held at the Lionel
Wendt Art Gallery over the weekend. As I paused by each and every
exhibit, I could see so much water she so lovingly has captured in to
her canvas. Even the Solitary Rose had cascades of dew drops streaming
down her petals.
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Houses by the stream - Italian impression, Oil on canvas |
Jayani is an unruffled, comely dignified lady and these aspects of
her character can be traced in many of her figures. A retired
administrative officer and a senior diplomat whose strain of work, never
sat on her. She still looks beautiful and strictly composed and chose
art to spend the rest of her life with among other interests. This is
her second exhibition that I have seen and she keeps improving all the
time.
Most of her scenes are non turbulent and panoramic and the eye
effortlessly swaps across them, easy to focus on the main structure of
the painting.
The woodlands force the viewer to pause and gaze to comprehend the
subject. She is clever in that she is able to hold the interest of the
critic and absorb not only the painting itself but the mental angle with
which she paints and there are many like her in our country. At the same
moment, the elements of the painting are recognisably local and some
Italian landscapes.
She is highly influenced by Italian painting but the painters whom
she never tries to adopt. Jayani was the Ambassador to Rome in her
diplomatic career and among what interested her in this country was
their scenic beauty that she stored in her mind for future use. So, one
find a mixture of Italian art among Jayani’s collection.
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The lake greets the morning sun, Oil on canvas |
I wonder whether she had seen Lake Nemi in Italy (Campagna) or even
the masterpiece done on it by John Robert Cozens. It would have
interested her because of the beauty of water that makes up Lake Nemi
which Cozens painted in 1788.
She uses green, blue and grey for the swirling waters but at times a
dash of other colours for highlight. She favours observations rather
than narration but can be imaginative too.
Jayani has still a long way to go to reach the top but what she does
today is an indication what will be tomorrow. Jayani confines herself to
what she like most and from apart of water, there are trees and burgeon,
village life, simple people and above all, she is an excellent painter
of birds almost with photographic accuracy.
Landscapes, she does on canvas with colour texture and pattern to
combine and create a vivid representation of many scenes she has seen.
Landscapes are no more classical and they do not recede which makes
modern painters like Jayani and others elsewhere around the world, find
easy to paint with no restriction placed on them.
Thus came naturalism that allowed them the freedom to wade through
subtle colour to glorious blaze. Jayani had 66 exhibits and they all
reflected the ardour she has for Sri Lanka and Italy. Among them.
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The mysterious woods. Oil on canvas by Jayani Pinnawela. |
Autumn Glow Unwittingly Jayani has created a 3-D effect on this work.
Rising mountains in the background and cottages stop the banks with the
water twisting and turning away as it glides down. Subtle colours giving
a magical touch.
Deer at peace away from the atrocities of man, the deer graze
reminding me of Bach’s magnificent score ‘The sheep may gently grace’.
Italy-An-Impression Jayani’s adoration for this country in which she
served as ambassador, the country that beckoned her to pick up her brush
and canvas. The ardour with which she paints excerpt from Italy is a
tribute from one country to another. In this painting, the unmistakable
Italian buildings merge with one another.
Rough Sea The turbulent waves crashing with each other which Jayani
has painted in a series of subtle colour instead of a dark and angry
sea. A boat tossed about make it eery for man to cross the water. |
