Beauty of the ordinary

To those who have experienced Dayan Kotachchi's work there is a profound understanding of the depth and insight this artist possesses. Dayan, who works at a leading ad firm as a senior Art Director has been drawn towards the arts from a very early stage in his life, which only adds to his allure as an artist. Although his family was not completely supportive of a future in the Arts stream, he confesses that his fascination toward it could not have been stopped.

His second solo exhibition "Sankalana II" launches on the 11th of September and will be open for public viewing on the 12th, 13th & 14th of September at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery.

Through this exhibition Dayan takes us on a journey of the familiar, of Sri Lankan life. Here, he explores the beauty of the ordinary. Each painting is a reflection of local life, people and places. Dayan explains that he "...wanted people to see the paintings and connect with it instantly, to think 'I've been there..' or 'I've seen that person...' and to just be able to see the ordinary with new eyes..."

Dayan has given an ironic twist to the whole exhibition by using oil paints. Dayan feels that most artists don't explore the full potential of this medium, which is the main reason he decided to experiment with it for "Sankalana II". Over the years different artists have noted that oil painting limits your scope and inhibits your subject matter, but Dayan proves these critics wrong. His use of oils for the various subject matter ranging from wildlife and portraits to landscapes, encompasses a distinct style of honesty, subtly and sheer genius that his audience is bound to appreciate.

Dayan hopes that one day soon he'll be able to become a teacher to promising young artists, and pass on his knowledge and experience. He rightly observes that Sri Lanka's environment is still not fluid enough to give artists the promising spotlight and support that they deserve. He remarks that as a developing country we tend to set our sights on technical measurements, when evaluating the quality of life and not to that of the arts. "But what is a society, a culture, without its Art?" he asks. He hopes that some time soon these short comings will change and that his work helps in some small way to bring about that change. He has been called a 'naturalist' and a 'visionary' but Dayan's modesty is possibly the guiding factor behind his brilliance. He explains that through his exhibition, people would be able to better understand his work and himself as an artist but more importantly he states, that he will be able to better understand and learn from his audience, being ever open to criticism and praise alike. Dayan explains that to him, life is like a duty that each one of us has to fulfill.

The journey is long, trying and at times tiresome but he says that everyone is equipped with a weapon; of talent, of wisdom, of charm. And that it is that weapon that gives meaning to this life.

Dayan's weapon is Art, which he believes is one of the most valuable and unselfish of talents, 'because its success lies in the fact that it can cut across borders and touch people in a way words and actions cannot'. He hopes that for him, Sankalana II will be a success in this sense.

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