Karunaratne’s abstract art
As a student of the Heywood School of Arts, H.A. Karunaratne was
described by no less a person than David Paynter as one one who “Will
day be a credit to Ceylon” in The Ceylon Observer November 1956.
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Some of Karunaratne’s paintings |
H.A. Karunaratne was honoured with a Doctorate at the Third
Convocation of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts held at
the BMICH on June 18. The Convocation speech was delivered by Higher
Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake.
The Dean of the Visual Arts Faculty Dr. Sarath Gnanasiri and Sarath
Gunasiri the Head of the Department of Painting among others, expressed
their happiness about the awarding of an honorary doctorate to Dr. H.A.
Karunaratne at the opening of a Retrospective Exhibition of his work of
June 18 at 5 p.m. at the J.D.A. Perera Gallery.
The Exhibition was opened by the Visual and Performing Arts
University Vice Chancellor Senior Prof. Jayasena Kottegoda and the Chief
Guest of the Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, India Vice Chancellor
Prof. Karunansindudas along with Dr. H.A. Karunaratne amidst a large
gathering. Dr. Karunaratne’s dedication and creativity and a unique
style of expression he developed uplifted him in his career.
The knowledge he grasped during his tenure as a recipient of a
Fulbright scholarship (offered by the United States of America) in 1965
to study Graphic Art included the study of the Lithography method and
carried him easily on to the path of Modern Art.
Toiling along this path with many barriers and obstacles wasn’t
easily achieved, but the love and determination he put in to perfecting
this art form and the attainment of deep feelings in his art and
paintings have borne fruit today.
Furthermore, he is an individual who is not swayed by the opinions of
others in the pursuit of his work. He is gentle in character – quiet and
calm with unsophisticated charm.
On his work, he explains “Abstract art is in nature, it’s nothing
new” and “why should you use pigment with brushes when you can get
marvelous colours in the objects you come across in the environment.
“Going through this massive collection of paintings of an unorthodox
artist will carry the viewer into the wonderful world of abstract art.
The exhibition will remain open until July 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
