Blessed with diverse talents

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

The creative process is a process of surrender, not control. - Julia Cameron

Harshini Perera

Multi-faceted artiste Harshini Perera is not one to idle looking for things to be handed over to her in a platter. The gifted young lady who made a memorable entrance to the screen through Udayakantha Warnasuriya’s Hiripoda Vessa had come a long way in a sector which many had not pursued.

She will hold an exhibition of paintings at Lionel Wendt on March 28 and 29 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The opening ceremony of the exhibition will take place on March 27 at 6.30 p.m. The specialty of this exhibition lies in the fact that a special section had been dedicated to images are formed out of diamonds embedded to the paintings.

This form of art derived is a unique concept that had not been exhibited by local artistes. Rubies, emeralds, blue sapphires, peridots, garnets, aqua marines and many more will dazzle on canvas as 50 creations will adorn the walls along with watercolour, charcoal, oil and black and white sketches.

“I guess I was born with a creative streak and I believe it descended from one of my uncles, Ivor Baptise, who was a renowned painter. Everyone was creative in my immediate family but Baptise was the one who really made a name for himself in the field,” Harshini said.

The old girl of Bishop’s College, Colombo, came into contact with diamonds from her childhood. A neighbour who happen to be a gem dealer exposed the little girl to handling gems.

“He even presented me with a box for my birthday and I was able to tell the stones apart in an instance. I did a miniature version of a portrait of a woman with designs of necklaces and jewellery worked out with stones for my debut exhibition.

Those creations caught an eye of a viewer and he was so taken up with the jewellery designs that before I knew it. I had a job as a jewellery designer at Agasti Jewellers in Havelock Road,” she retorted adding that she climbed the ladder as far as to hold the post of creative director.

Harshini left to take up studies in Gemology after a five year stint with Agasthi. Possessing exceptional features apart from creativity, she was even presented with a ticket to Hollywood, but one she declined as she wished to focus on her studies.

However the episode left a lasting impact on the young lady as she was driven by the passion to help her country. She says: “I wanted to be somebody in my own country, not in a foreign land. I enroled for Miss Sri Lanka and won the crown in 2004. Then I agreed to do a role for Hiripoda Vessa and clinched the Sarasaviya Award of Best Upcoming Actress for my first movie reappearance in 2007. Art is not something that could be taught. You can only brush up your skills and learn the techniques,” she related.

She is married to Buddhika Kulasekara, Director of Programs, Swarnavahini. The couple are blessed with one child, one year old Aakesh, who also shows early signs of taking to paintings.

“Some of his creations will also be on exhibit. The exhibition will comprise four categories: Strokes of Love, wildlife, gem creations and the general category.

“After Hiripoda Vessa I did not take up roles in movies except for a few appearances in quality advertisements. I had to dedicate my time to my baby and my paintings.

If an interesting role in a quality production is offered to me I might consider taking it up but there is a chance that I might never venture into that sector if good offers do not come my way,” she said adding that she will continue paintings and designing jewellery.

Pix: Saman Sri Wedage