Adding fresh dimensions to nature

It has been observed that every good painting is a biography. The true artist is a biographer not only in his portraits but in all his other paintings - whether he depicts a scene in action, a quiet landscape, or an abstract idea. A skilled artist can faithfully reproduce an object. He defines, and in a sense refines the subject that he paints so that his brush strokes bring out the essential significance - that is the life story of his painting.

It portrays not only an object, but his character. He transforms old images into new beauty. He adds to the painting the rhythm and colour of his own personality. He adds fresh dimension to nature.

Such an artist is M. Chandrapala who was born at Veyangoda in the Gampaha district. His early education was at Veyangoda Maha Vidyalaya and Devalapola Maha Vidyalaya and later in 1963 he entered the University of Kelaniya and obtained the BA degree. He also followed a course in art at the Government College of Fine Arts (Heywood).

He had participated in many art exhibitions here and abroad and won many awards. His paintings have been selected for international exhibitions in India, Bangaladesh, Bulgariya, Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Sweden and France.

Two of his colourful paintings

The paintings speak of his special skills which he has honed during a period of well over 20 years. He has a variety of styles and has been influenced by George Keyt, and the Bengal School of Painters.

Being an extremely versatile painter he worked in two distinct ways - solid realism and a lighter decorative mode blending abstract and figurative elements. He is an original colourist often at his best. He excels in realist perception and fluent handling of paint. His paintings present a contrasting vision of the elegance of the village and the simple delights of the rusty life which is at the heart of his own feelings.

His work also depicts love, affection, hope and various personal bonds in human life. Seascapes, lakes and rivers are subjects in his creations.

In many works he shows a distinctiveness in both composition and use of colour. He has a set of foreign buyers and collectors and art lovers to exhibit at their personal art galleries. He opened his private art gallery in 2006 at Veyangoda his home town.

Chandrapala is also a poet and has published a collection of poems.

It is said, 'Art is not a diversion. It is a conflict, a complication of wheels in which one is crushed.'