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Exhibition of paintings:
Splendour in Colour
Sarath MALALASEKERA
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Ruki
Wijeratne |
Art Season - 2009, commences with Ruki Wijeratne's 'Splendour in
Colour' exhibition of paintings at Harold Peiris Art Gallery at the
Lionel Wendt on January 17 and January 18.
'Splendour in Colour' presents thirty six oil on canvas paintings and
five pen and wash black and white etches of Sri Lanka archaeological
remains.
Ruki Wijeratne, wife of Legal Aid Commission Chairman S.S. Wijeratne,
who had a number of solo and group art exhibitions held abroad since the
late 1980s has been concentrating on Sri Lankan themes during the past
few years, upon her return to Sri Lanka. Exhilarating collection is
ample evidence of her flexibility in transiting from the European
classical and romantic schools of art to oriental themes found in the
day of life in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's position as a splendid tropical island has been a
dominant factor in creating internationally recognised seascapes. The
ocean, rivers, waterfalls and estuaries have inspired many an artist to
depict the mood of Indian Ocean and tropical rivers from different
vantage points.
Ruki Wijeratne captures the splendour of the psychedelic sunset and a
rough sea in her exquisite seascape 'Harmony in Yellow and Orange' and
defuses in to calmer moods in her gentle seascape of 'After Glow',
'Sunset' and 'Pink Dawn'.
The ensemble of Ruki Wijeratne's diverses seascapes provides art
lovers different textures for different moods.
The artist displays a unique aptitude in capturing the subtle colour
fusion of Sri Lanka flowers. Floral paintings specially the lotus
flower, even though has formed a consistent motif in ancient Sinhala art
have escaped the attention of the many contemporary schools of art.
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Near Galle |
Ruki Wijeratne's large canvass 'Bougainvillea' encapsulates the
vibrant shades of a tropical Bougainvillea flowers in all its splendour
and her 'Sun Glow against Ultra Marine' captures the heart warming
textures of the sun flowers. The riot of psychedelic colour evocatively
depicted in 'Chrysanthemum' (Nuwara Eliya) stands out amongst her flora
paintings symbolising the rich and vibrant floral heritage of the hill
country.
Ruki Wijeratne is a multifaceted artist who applies her European Art
education under Chekoslavian artist Professor Parvel Kobel in Geneva and
her immersion in impressionist techniques at the Ecole de Beau Arts in
Paris. Ruki's 'Mardi Gras Masquerade' is a painting where mysteries of
female moods are eloquently displayed by a lonely lady at a masked ball.
In her 'Spanish Dancer' the gracefulness of evocative western dancer is
captured in bold colours whereas romantic eloquence of Asian aesthetic
Ballet dancers is vividly shown in her 'Homage to God'.
Ruki's transit with grace from western portraits to oriental elegance
in 'Gypsy Girl' and the portraits of Indian beauty in 'Serene' and
'Flower Offering'.
Ruki studied 'Mural Art' under Professor Stella Rohas in Manila in
the early 1990's which training has influenced her to embrace the
panoramic view of a tropical forest in 'Aerial View' and the magnificent
lines of ancient stone architecture in the 'Doorway'.
Ruki's 'Entrance to a plantation' could be classified within the same
genre.
'Splendour in colours' opening at 6 p.m. for invitees at Harold
Peiris Art Gallery of the Lionel Wendt on Saturday 17, 2009 and continue
on Sunday January 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the benefit of the
public. |
