Druvinka and her paintings:

It is all about life

by Samangie WETTIMUNY

When asked whether she has titled her forthcoming painting exhibition she puts the question back to us. "Should I title it?"

"I want viewers to interpret my paintings the way they want.I want you to have your own story."

Druvinka, the well known freelance artist who has held seventeen painting exhibitions since 1990 in several countries says that whenever she exhibits her paintings it is a continuation from the previous year.

Her next exhibition which will be held at the Barefoot Gallery from March 4 to 22, is a progression from the one she conducted in 2007. The exhibition will include 16 paintings.

In her paintings she employs forms like lingam, circles, buds, vagina, snakes, idols, silhouettes and shadowy figures. Pointing at a circle painted in one of her paintings she says that life is a circle. "It is square that is man-made," she smiles.

As an art critic Naguesh Sardessai says Druvinka 'displays a very rare streak of cerebral artistry. According to Sardessai her paintings border on the definition of spiritual outpouring with the space, which is an expansive commodity, gaining renewed meaning. The verdict spiritual concept of the whole cosmos and an individual living creature being a product of the single universal truth gets defined in that framed work."

As Druvinka says she did not have to worry herself as to what she should choose as her occupation. She admits that she was born to become an artist. "I did not have to choose. The inspiration was there from my childhood".

Recalling her past spent as a student in Shanthinikethan, West Bengal, India she says that was where she marked the beginning. "I left Sri Lanka to study in Shanthinikethan. There I learnt a lot. Gradually you begin to see everything including minute things. You understand that you are one of them."

Druvinka who now lives in Himachal Pradesh, India further says that she prefers Goa to Delhi or Mumbai as life is very much relaxed over there.

She never does a lay-out as such before starting to paint. "Drawing is the best option."

Anyway as she starts working on a painting, she had already done 80% of it in her mind! Responding to the `frequently asked question' about her seemingly favourite forms, she says "I feel that is what the world is all about. Male and female! Everything is centred around the gender." n