Joanna's signature style: Nature, life and beliefs

Joanna Adams Jayawardana, well known compere, owner of JHA Solutions (Pvt) Ltd. and Television Show host, held her second art exhibition at the Lionel Wendt gallery last week, putting on display a sumptuous collection that was both a coming of age of an artist and a colourful juxtaposition of tribal life and modern art.

Titled 'Point of View' the painting, according to Joanna are an interpretation of tribal portrait, modern art and how tribal people connect with nature, life, and beliefs "Each painting has its own story," she says, adding that she has now found her own style and signature as an artist.

Joanna held her first exhibition at the Wendt gallery in 2002. Titled 'Rush of Colours', it showcased more a journey than an arrival, with over 85 different paintings that ranged from sceneries to portraits and more.

"My first exhibition was brought to life because of my mom who got everything done for me. Losing her, I lost the feel and the inspiration to paint for a while, then work got in the way, finally last year I just felt I wanted to try out my new style of art, so I decided to take on my second exhibition," she says, adding that she hopes to make an exhibition biennial and that in Lionel Wendt she had found a fantastic location.

Girl

Joanna admits that she is better known for her compering and that many are surprised when she says she draws. But she has been drawing since she was a little girl. "My mom saw I had a talent for drawing, so I used to take up art classes after school," says Joanna, who then went on to study art with Priyanthi Wijeratne, who she says was a wonderful teacher and mentor.

Life and its experiences inspire Joanna's art work. "Being able to translate a feeling, an emotion or an experience through art in your own unique way is something wonderful," she says, adding that she has been inspired by many different artists. Her favourites include Senaka Senanayake and Marie Alles Fernando, two who are well known in Sri Lanka. "I also like the work of Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Salvador Dali and Johannes Vermeer but I always loved Picasso, I find his work the most inspiring," she adds.

Styles

Dabbling in various and mediums, Joanna's main preference is oil and acrylics, but she also likes to experiment with other unconventional media such as sawdust, recycled bits and pieces and newspaper. "I like the way it ages and changes shade over time, taking that antique faded look," she says.

- MB