Borderline Batik mania

Any art lover who has visited an art gallery will understand the difference between modern and contemporary art of the present. He will be able to take a close-up view and feel the difference in each and every mode of all artistic value in each painting to which ever group belong. The techniques of a new concept introduced by Eric Suriyasena who is the icon and father of the batik industry in Sri Lanka, will find a pleasant surprise in batik as paintings for the sitting room.

It might take a little time to catch up but once done, will secure a permanent place in the world of art. Tourists and visitors will wish to carry out our own identity into their living rooms as well as gifts for the others. The potential is high and tempting if only Suriyasena. What started as a hobby, is presently developed into professionalism. Suriyasena picked his brush and the palette and found his dreams merging into reality and it will not be long when he will find his dreams hanging on walls. Determination towards a new concept to present batik as an art, finally bore results. He answered the call for those who were starving for a new look in wall hangings and sitting room décor.

The background to batik painting usually rests upon dark colours and continual rubbing down of previous first layer of painting, sets what he wishes to draw and Suriyasena knows their intricacies no matter how hard or minute the washes are. The touch of the brushes deliver his dreams with effect and candour. Variations in flesh colour and green are prominent but what I liked most was his painting of a single green leaf where the highlighting was in muted silver as against the varying greens used. It stood boldly contrasting and unusual. It was a simple subject, one identity subject but in the hands of this maestro, it was magnificent.

There was also this hibiscus flower in flaming orange as though afloat on its reverse but with a closer look, Suriyasena had caught its impact on the reverse of the float with the stems streaming off away from the bloom. This was an example of the painter trying to wiggle his way out and found himself getting more and more motivated. The inclusion of a single colour background, surfaced the characteristics of the subject. As for me, I am yet to get acquainted with this art form.

The utilizing aspects of his batik art, he was able to create images that contained attractive indiscreet exotic qualities. But Suriyasena has to be more specific and severe in his images and create the batik designs Sri Lankans are used to seeing in sarees, apparels and wall hangings. He must be indiscrect and try hard to wipe out those images and present batik painting in different light and secular effect. Otherwise people will tend to take batik paintings as the usual batik art they are used to. There is also a challenge arising from screen printed and silk batiks used for apparals. He has to be mindful that he is using a special kind of silk on which he lays his images.

He has succeeded thus far in this concept when you take a look at his paintings of a couple of horses galloping out of myriad coloured water. The effect is fine. Suriyasena's remarkable ability to simplify and codify the complexities of an art that has been already established worldwide, reveals his ability to take up this new challenge.

Taking into consideration he is not an impressionist, nor someone who has dabbled in cubisism, contemporary, modern art etc; but by batik alone, might be a longshot he has to experiment with. But he has hit the trail right in the lightness and delicacy of techniques.

Only time will tell where it will take him.