Poetry
in abstracts
The essence of Mueen Saheed:
 Hidden within the splatter of fiery colours of Mueen Saheed's canvas
is the essence of Galle, of colonial times gone by and of city
romanticised for its old world charm.
 Mueen
Saheed, whose art works are highly narrative is an established artist
based in Colombo. He does not believe in photogenic paintings or art
that's intended for subjective value. For him art is a contemplative
discovery.
"As an abstract artist, there is a sense of profound personal
satisfaction when I know an art lover 'sees' what they first
overlooked," he remarks when asked of his latest work. "It is not always
difficult to spot the theme of the abstract artist's work - yet, often
times it is."
Mueen's latest project is a case in point. He spent over 1,000 hours
studying and painting Galle and its majestic fort. The paintings are a
reflection of the rich history of the Galle Fort. The canvas for this
was timber doors and windows for a new boutique hotel which opened its
doors this past week in the heart of the Fort.
 Art
festival aficionados when looking at the paintings would usually know
that 'something' is hidden among the green, blue, yellow and red. The
painting requires a few scans of the observer's mind's eye to make the
final determination. And it varies for each individual. Depicted in the
paintings are the various time periods etched in colour beginning from
the early Voyages of the Merchants to periods of Colonialism and
imperialism from which the Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site
draws it inspiration from.
The four sets of door Panels show the colourful period of Galle and
its inhabitants, culture and influences of the locals and their way of
life. The Pot is a unique feature where the bottom of it is painted with
the rich culture of Galle while the names and dates are painted to
reflect the history.
 "Art
today is extremely provocative and good at creating instant reaction
from people but very few tend to go beyond that initial sight to create
lasting contemplation," he said. To Mueen, art in this form is
therapeutic for himself and the viewer. He prefers the understated depth
and richness that art can offer in being observed and studied for longer
periods of time.
Mueen Saheed also presented President Maithripala Sirisena, with a
painting on 'Yahapalanya' during the President's first year anniversary
celebrations, which was held at the BMICH last week. The painting is a
reflective of the President's pledge and the 100-day program. The
artwork also calls for calls for unity and co existence of political
parties with profound respect to all faiths in this country.
When asked of the momentous occasion, the artist remarked that the
President was impressed with the artwork and spent a few minutes onstage
speaking to him about the artwork. The President went on to sign the
painting. The framed painting is presently at the Presidential
Secretariat.
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