Expressions 10:

An exhibition of figurative art

by Shari Jayawardhana

Renowned artist Jayantha Silva’s new exhibition titled “Expressions 10” will be on display at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from September 13 to 15. The chief guest at the event will be veteran advertising personality and chairman of Phoenix-Ogilvy, Irvin Weerakkody. Jayantha 's forte is figurative art and portraits. He began as a child artist, and as an adult decided to pursue commercial art. Having given up art for 20 years, he took to his childhood hobby by drawing a painting of a mother and child titled “Rwanda”, This piece of art was particularly significant to Jayantha as it gave him the courage to pursue his passion. He describes art as “a form of meditation which is deeply therapeutic.”

In this day and age where abstract paintings are more popular, Jayantha was unsure of how his audience would react to his paintings. However, his works were well received by art lovers. Two-thirds of his art work from the first exhibition in 2003 was sold. Jayantha is able to visualise a picture on a blank canvas. He is gifted with a photographic memory, and able to recollect and draw photos that he has seen years before. One example of this is his drawing of Swan Lake after seeing the movie as a child 40 years ago. A unique feature of Jayantha’s paintings is the fact that his viewers are able to identify with his drawings. He recalls an event where he held an art exhibition at the Light House Hotel in Galle. A couple was interested in his painting titled “Tranquility.”

The couple asked him to reserve the drawing for them and went to bring their child. The child was identical to the figure that Jayantha had drawn in the painting. Jayantha frequently travels overseas to promote his art. He was offered a full sponsorship by the Export Development Board to attend one of the biggest trade fairs in Asia, held in New Delhi, India. His paintings are purchased by art lovers in various countries including Australia, America, The UK, Canada, Singapore, Holland, Malaysia and India. His overseas customer base has grown through word of mouth. He was judged the winner of the armature cartoonist contest organised last year by the American Center in Colombo. The judge at the event was Kevin Kallaugher (Kal), Lead Cartoonist of the Economist magazine.