Lankan artist’s exhibition at Leeds University

Artistic ideals of Sri Lanka’s tropical beauty and memories marking the horrors of the island’s conflict collide in a new exhibition which opened at Leeds Metropolitan University on Friday. The stunning 12 piece art show - Paradise Lost, is open to the public at the University’s Broadcasting Place until April 26 and is the handiwork of PhD student Priyantha Udagedara.

The Sri Lankan born 37-year-old, whose childhood was blighted by his country’s unrest, was a professional artist before he came to the UK in 2006 to study for a Masters in painting at Leeds Metropolitan.

“There are two versions of Sri Lanka – the one where people see it as the beautiful place that it is, and the Sri Lanka where paradise was lost,” said Priyantha. “This is what my paintings represent.”The collection is the second series of paintings to be exhibited under the theme of Paradise Lost, the first of which was displayed in the Paradise Road Galleries in Colombo in 2010.

He added that some of the paintings in the new series of Paradise Lost focus on an architectural style.

“I have included actual photos of Sri Lankan buildings that were destroyed during the conflict in the collages of my paintings,” said Priyantha. “I also included pieces of bandages sourced from a hospital in Sri Lanka.”Priyantha has exhibited his work in both the UK and Sri Lanka, as well as in numerous international venues including The Cross Art Project in Sydney and the Lalith Kala Academy Gallery New Delhi. Following the exhibition at Leeds Metropolitan University, the Paradise Lost series will also be exhibited in London gallery.

-Leedsmet