Art teacher's eloquent rhythms

By Kalakeerthi EDWIN ARIYADASA

The artist is the only person, who knows what to do with beauty. - Jean Rostand

Lakmini Amararatne's childhood toys were pencil, pen and brush. For her, drawing was as natural as breathing. Her daily world taught her lessons in beauty. Home was the haven of inspiration. The family ensured a lively alertness to human issues.

All the elements in the equation, cumulatively contributed towards the emergence of a child artist.

Lakmini Amararatne puts the finishing touches

After a series of productive years of wholesome maturity, the erstwhile child artist, has now metamorphosed into a teacher of art.

The gentle teacher Lakmini Amararatne, presents her latest creative efforts to the world, at a solo exhibition titled 'Rhythm of Life." It will be held at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery today.

Professionalism

She began her significant art efforts at the age of seven. From then on she has progressed along into high professionalism. Awards came along in surprising profusion. National and international recognition arrived as a matter of course.

Her latest works emerge in such a colourful background. A predominant idiom in her latest works is the portrayal of swirling waves of colour. To my mind, this staple motif in her present paintings, is a symbolisation of the turbulent day-to-day world, replete with worldly and secular responsibilities. The agitated external world impacts telling upon her life.

In her latest series of paintings, one particular work that impressively communicates the inner urge is the portrayal of "Mother and Child". The mother, warmly and intimately embraces her child, as if she is anxious to protect her offspring from what is going on in the outer region.

The external zone is depicted as a whirl of colour, to establish its troubled nature. The implication is the child must be defended from that tortured environment.

The artist' continuing interest in the beauty of nature, is colourfully echoed in the painting depicting maidens gathering flowers.

Artist Lakmini Amararatne, possesses a pronounced concern for the safeguarding of ecological purity. Very early in her career as an artist, I recall a painting she created to dramatically depict the ravages of environmental pollution.

A majestic tree raises its head above a thick cloud of polluted air, as if seeking desperately for breathing space.

This marked love of nature lingers alluringly in her portrayal of the youthful maidens, in the midst of a hoard of colourful blossoms.

Artist Lakmini Amararatne's evolved mastery over rhythms is eloquently expressed by the 'Three Dancing Women' clad in vivid sarees they perform a tantalising group-dance. One could even interpret them, as the three daughters of Mara making a hopeless effort to entice the Supremely Enlightened Buddha.

Her rhythms are effective in the depiction, both of agitation and serenity. Two devotees at worship, are shown in a subdued and restrained rhythm, in keeping with the tranquility of the context.

The colours themselves are sober reflecting the spiritual quietness.

Rhythm

A rhythm with a folk-lift, enlivens the dance of "The Two Rural Maidens". The viewer can quite easily enter into the swing of their dance, as the lines reflect the liveliness of their dance, with an alluring authenticity.

One of the exhibits

As artist Lakmini Amaratatne, moves along, into upper reaches of her creativity, she has chosen to pass on the tradition of art to the emerging generation.

At the Lakmini School of Art, the children who receive her guidance, are instructed not only in the routine of making an effective artistic expression. Going beyond that limited perspective art-guru Lakmini Amararatne, enables the tiny souls to evolve into an aesthetic appreciation of the world around them.

She is not pre-occupied with, taking the children through, the routine process of making a drawing.

Beauty

She enlightened the young minds, into discovering the endless beauty of the world they inhabit. Their imagination is never thwarted by strict do's and dont's.

They are allowed the liberty to travel along a voyage of discovery.

The mature artist, who has received numerous awards and accolades at local and international levels, Lakmini Amararatne, has now elevated her creativity, project a style of her own.

Her inner being is pulled in three directions. There is above all the family obligation to look after her spouse and her children.

Then there is her career. Thirdly, the sacred responsibility of developing the aesthetic soul of the children who form her student group in her art school.

She balances all these, with an impressive effectiveness, preserving serenely her perpetual pleasantness of personality.Her latest solo exhibition, will open a window on her new artistic horizons, enabling the viewers to imbibe a rare aesthetic joy. Her present exhibition is an eloquent promise of the art she could give the viewers, through her future development.