Sri Lanka paintings to be showcased in Oman:

Challenging opportunity for Jayasiri Semage

Prof. Chandima WIJEBANDARA

Jayasiri Semage

Opportunities to enjoy art and culture of their own are very rare for Sri Lankans engaged in various professions and vocations abroad. It is especially so, for those who are in the Middle East where cultural environment is notably different for those who come from village backgrounds. Observing this rather stressful lacuna some cultural societies are in the practice of organising, time to time, screening of Sri Lankan films and even inviting musical groups or theatrical performers to stage cultural events thus assisting their fellow countrymen feel home in their host countries.

This, as an additional benefit, provides opportunity of sharing their culture with newly made friends there. However, it is noted, that there still remains a vacuum in relation to art forms like painting and photography. In order to cater for such tastes a group of art lovers living in Muscat, Oman, have extended an invitation to hold an exhibition of paintings to one of the Sri Lanka’s most acclaimed and state honoured artists, Jayasiri Semage. It is learned that they have already made necessary arrangements to make this a grand occasion of two cultures meeting in the most refreshing manner.

It is, as a matter of fact, the first ever occasion that a Sri Lankan artist is provided with the opportunity of exhibiting his art in a prestigious gallery in Muscat. It will also be a challenging experience even to Semage who has showcased his art in many countries in the world but never before in a land enriched by Islamic culture. He may definitely feel constrains of remarkably different cultural setting of Middle East from the contexts that he had been availed before. Nevertheless, the exhibition provides a two way exchange of culturally nourishing experiences. While the Oman friends of Sri Lankan art lovers may get a refreshing glance at colourful depiction of Sri Lankan culture seen through the eyes of one of the most aesthetically sensitive artists of Sri Lanka, Semage also might pick up refreshingly new insight into life and environment in culturally rich Islamic setting. We may perhaps expect a new blend of aesthetics to emerge in future creations of Semage when he returns back from Oman.

The exhibition is scheduled to be held from April 22 - 25 in a well-known art gallery in Muscat, Oman. At the ceremonial opening, Semage will present himself as the special guest. National flags of Oman and Sri Lanka will be hoisted while the national anthem of Sri Lanka will add to the pride of the occasion. It is also arranged to light the traditional oil lamp while the ceremonial drum beat or Magul bera and blowing of conch shell (sankha) will resonate the exhibition hall creating an appropriate occasion for ceremonial opening of the exhibition of paintings by this world renowned maestro of lines. Moreover, in addition a number of paintings and photographs created by talented Sri Lankans who are presently in Oman will also be showcased, adding more lustre to the occasion.

Jayasiri Semage has made his mark in the world of art as a person who possesses a unique Sri Lankan identity. Having his inspiration from Ajanta-Sigiri tradition and blended it with his own aesthetic sensitivity, Semage has evolved a new style of portraying beauty depicting mostly the romantic and exciting aspects of life. His lines become more aggressively lustful and sexy when employed to paint invitingly beautiful women.

During his successful career as an artist Semage has been privileged to create impressive pavilions at various exhibitions in many countries including China and Japan. His speciality of creating Makara archways and floral creeper motifs has been highly appreciated at such occasions. Moreover, Semage has had many solo exhibitions in countries like Sweden, Switzerland, Geneva, Finland, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. However, the forthcoming exhibition, which is very different in context and the content, though it seems a positive challenge to Semage, will provide his admirers an opportunity to appreciate a new dimension of indefatigable creativity of this unique cultural ambassador of our land.

(Writer is the former Vice Chancellor, Sri Jayawardenepura University)