Into immortal print
Ishara JAYAWARDANE
An exhibition of painter Justin Deraniyagala’s paintings was held
last Friday at Cinnamon Grand. This exhibition coincided with the launch
of a book Justin Deraniyagala- Oil Paintings featuring his work.
“He was an artist very well known in his lifetime. Unfortunately a
little forgotten. This book will attempt to bring him back into public
memory. I hope the book will get circulated and go into college
libraries. Perhaps sometime in Sri Lanka people will start to research
his work again. He had a lot of influence in his peer group.
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Late Deraniyagala’s nephew looks on as
the painter’s book is handed over to Secretary to President
Lalith Weeratunga. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage |
He died in 1967 and the quality of Art he was doing was on par with
what was happening in the west. It was on par with what was happening
internationally,” said Shernevz Coleh who edited the book and wrote the
biographical essay.
The nephew of Justin Deraniyagala, Arjun Deraniyagala, paid tribute
to his uncle saying that Justin Deraniyagala never wanted to sell him
paintings but painted for the pleasure of painting. The evening
culminated in a touching gesture when he presented the book to Secretary
to the President Lalith Weeratunga.
In his address Professor Ashley Halpe mentioned some key phrases in
connection to the paintings: “You have had a chance to encounter these
paintings”.
What an excellent selection of words! Indeed one can only encounter a
living thing. And to speak of an encounter with a painting is to speak
of the encounter with the man. The painter.
Every single painting on display at the Courtyard of the Cinnamon
Grand was in Halpe’s words: “Each encounter is indeed personal, that is
what makes it unique”. Just imagine encountering the man in each of his
paintings! Every aspect of his personality; his psyche.
Halpe also mentioned another one of his observations: “Spending time
with the paintings a uniquely personal discovery of a great work of
art”. Truth be told a painting is worth a 1000 words and each painting
is a discovery, a completely personal experience for each individual.
One might say that what you see in a painting is what you have been
looking for from the start. Could this be true for every painting?
Indeed painting is a study. It needs to be studied. Can anyone ascertain
the complexity and depth of the human mind? Can we hope to understand
this Justin Deraniyagala? What use is viewing a painting without
attempting to understand the painter? What a fascinating study, this
Deraniyagala’s mind!
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