Nandasena Dalugama:

Nature’s beauty plays an important role in his art

In the vicinity of Homagama, 18 kilometres from Colombo, the eye sweeps over an extent of beautiful scenery, the river and the hills covered in a thick tropical growth leading to a village named Dampe. It is in this village that Nandasena Dalugama was born in 1946.

The villagers have a busy life engaged in making various products based on the coconut. Every part of the nut is utilised. Ropes and mats are made from the covering of the shell and the milk is used in cooking. Women and children dressed in bright colours criss cross across the road towards the bazaar. An artist who comes to the village and devotes himself in depicting the picturesque site could make a reputation and a fortune in no time.

Nandasena was brought up in these surroundings where he fell in love with the stunning colours, rich and exquisite. Mingling harmoniously in perfect taste provided an artistic stimulus to Nandasena from his childhood. His observant father encouraged him to develop his inborn talents. Nandasena started scribbling on paper, the images of the human body, birds and animals and later recorded the beauty of nature with the brush and the palette.

One of his paintings

Nandasena Dalugama

He completed his school career at the Homagama Madaya Maha Vidyalaya up to ALs. In 1961 he joined the police force and served for 14 years as a senior officer. Art was in his blood so he gave up the police department job and joined the Ceylon Society of Arts in 2006 and attended art classes conducted by the Society. Nandasena was fortunate to receive his art training under eminent teachers such as Kalapathi Pulasthi Ediraweera, Jayantha Tissera, Kalabushana Danny Wijesriwardena and Kaladeepani Vinnie Pereira. Art was the love of his life and as the years advanced he took up teaching art in several private schools.

In 2006 he won many awards organised by the Ceylon Society of Arts. In 2007 during the 60th Independence Day celebrations he won the first prize for a painting done on the heroes who won Independence.

In 2009 he won a gold medal for a painting named ‘Eagle’ organised by the Ceylon Society of Arts island wide.

Nandasena painted homely scenes of life in the village, the town, and wildlife. His outstanding work “the roddie village” (gypsies) line drawing, ‘fruits’, oil on canvas, Vegetable shop”, line drawing “Bikkuni meditating” are masterpieces in the medium of light and shade. Many of his pictures are beautiful in the subjects described in sober monochrome washes.

In all his paintings his technique remains the same with a rare accomplishment combined with a subtle sense of form and luminosity. Nandasena’s vision is lucid and uninterrupted. The directness and intensity of concentration of his subjects is conspicuous in both his water colours and oils, and also by his work in a variety of other media. He also takes a delight in wildlife.

Besides Nandasena’s dedication to painting, drawing and sculpture he is engaged in other activities as varied as they are, intensively pursued as an artist, and art teacher. He was a dedicated teacher at the Homagama, Pinnawala Rajahapola Maha Vidyalaya from 2009 to 2011. In 2012 he was moved deeply by the unique tribute accorded him by the Cultural Ministry for his outstanding services in art and culture by Minister T.B. Ekanayake. At present he is an art instructor at the Padukka Cultural Centre.