Transition from murals to landscape painting

Since the time man first made his sketches on the walls of his cave, the art of creative paintings has been growing in leaps and bounds. Painters have experimented with colours adding a distinctive touch to the application of paint on the canvas.

In the 1930s some local artists were influenced by church paintings depicting realistic figure drawings using bright colours. They adorned cathedrals and churches in Europe. As time advanced young painters deviated from the European style of painting and turned to the traditional Asian art for inspiration

Outstanding painters such as Solias Mendis and George Keyt did murals at the Kelani Rajamaha Vihara and Gothami Vihara, Borella. Somebandu Vidyapathi adorned the walls of the Bellanwila Raja Maha Vihara. They raised painting to a high standard.

Their paintings were unique as they depicted their individual styles and techniques. They can be equated with the Buddhist murals done during the Polonnaruwa period.

It is, therefore, heartening to see Sumith Akmeemana, a young contemporary artist carrying on the tradition with a high degree of competence.

He hails from Akmeemana, a little village in the Galle district. Akmeemana is endowed with a fertile valley surrounded by hills, green paddy fields and coconut trees.

One of his religious paintings

Kalakeerthi Sumith Akmeemana

The scenic beauty and the villagers with their simple lifestyle have enriched Akmeemana's artistic creativity.

It all started from the classroom. His art teacher in school Dayananda Liyanaarachi provided him with the basic techniques in drawing and painting. He helped Akmeemana to promote his artistic potential. After completing his Advanced Level examination, he later came under the tutelage of the reputed mural painter Samaris Sandarage who moulded him to be an excellent sculptor. His work could be seen at Buddhist temples around the island such as Rukmale Vihara, Dhammakeerthi Arama, Kottawa, Mallikarama, Piliyandala and Sri Soratha Dharmayathanaya.

There is intense concentration on simple stylised forms in his paintings. His latest creation could be seen at Suwisuddharama temple at Pamankada.

His reputation for temple murals and sculpture had spread far and wide. The lyrical quality of his sculpture is evident in his creations. The huge figure of Buddha at Meegahawatta Vihara, Kaduwela and the Buddha statue at Suwisuddharama temple, Pamankada are silent testimony to his skills.

He was commissioned by the Mahabodhi Buddhist Centre in Chennai, India to illustrate the life and times of the Buddha. He has been invited by Buddhist organisations and temples in America, Canada, Japan and Malaysia to work on their shrine rooms with historical Buddhist themes.

Having proved his ability in mural paintings and sculpture Sumith has turned his hand to wildlife and landscape painting. In his landscape composition he uses subjects from nature. His landscapes had all sorts of themes that stimulated his imagination.

From time to time Sumith painted sceneries with a tasteful felicity. He has infused into his paintings a mellow grandeur of red, green, blue and yellow. In recognition of his services he has been awarded 'Kalakeerthi' by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.