Acclaimed genius of our times
What Murali is to cricket, S H Sarath is to world of
art:
Charmaine Fernando
It is amazing that Sri Lankan soil
breeds world-defeating brilliance that set benchmarks and many firsts in
a myriad of fields. Look at Murali on the cricket pitch.
The ‘teardrop’ of the Indian Ocean became the only indomitable nation to
defeat terrorism to make the homeland the safest haven on this planet.
Sri Lanka has proven that the sons of our soil are heroic and a unique
breed like no other
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Woman with gold in her head |
There is no Sri Lankan in our lifetime, perhaps in the history of
this small nation who has had the opportunity to grow enormously, beyond
his stature, to create the most exhibited works of art, other than S H
Sarath. Since the early ’70s, Sarath blazed tracks no artist has tread
before and today has emerged a painter so powerful in his expression and
vision that he is revered and honoured wherever in the world he exhibits
his masterpieces.
He is a symbol of spirited determination, who braved the tide to rise
against set norms, in an era when art reigned supreme within an elitist
orbit, in good old Ceylon. He chose to challenge a rooted standard,
against a backdrop of political uprising prevalent at that time,
silently dedicating his life to an art form as a medium of effective
expression of social issues. S H Sarath, an epitome of immeasurable
talent, courage and resolve, pushed his limits lifting his vision and
life work to the next realm.
His brilliant exposure of social issues and interpretation of his
environment in a symbolic art form, all his very own, is what’s unique
about this man they call S.H. Sarath. A simple, Sri Lankan, from the
backward hamlet of Weligama in Galle, has emerged a colossus among
contemporary artists of the world. He is more than content as a
professional artist and his efforts and dedication has reaped beyond the
desired dreams; naturally his wide smile reflects the joy in his soul.
An exhibition of paintings and drawings by him was held at the Lionel
Wendt Art Gallery from August 17 to August 19 which drew art lovers and
art critics from far and wide. Daily News had the special privilege of
an exclusive sneak preview and an interview with him. His paintings are
the mirror of his soul; vibrant, full of life, penetrating through the
social fabric to address and lay bare issues seeking truth and justice.
Instead of a journalist’s pen he expresses vividly through his brush
strokes, splashing stories behind the news, with as much impact.
He reveals less; so that the viewer reads between the lines. His
miraculous fire is evident in his paintings. He expresses nature,
environment, conservation, passion, peace, love, craving and many human
attributes explicitly, more often indirectly using symbols, to relate
lessons in life.
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Tree of life |
Woman with eyes on chest |
It is this mastery in story telling and brilliant vision that draws
his critics closer to him. His art is enriched by elements of his native
cultural backdrop and traditions. His personal convictions are apparent
in excessive detail. Armed with insights, sharpened talent and a fine
vision he has evolved a unique style, to become an intelligent observer
and an analyst of society, environment and the world he lives in,
interpreting it with passion and intensity.
His talent has taken him round the world not for eighty days but
covering the world map for over forty years, from 1970 to 2010. Looking
at the rave reviews he received from foreign lands we cannot but believe
Sri Lankans are born with that inexplicable magnetism and magical
essence that hold the world spellbound. S H. Sarath did just that
wherever he roamed with his paintings, sculptures and sketches.
He is one of a kind human being and artist, who had achieved
Himalayan heights through his inherent talents of expressing what his
mind perceives, in the most pulsating splash of colour, that has
coloured his life anything but blue. |
