‘Chronicle of Love’ to unfold in paintings

by Prof. Chandima Wijebandara

Is there anything more precious than love to a human being? The answer would be an echoing chorus of “No, there is none”. Even animals would join the sweet chorus.

With its warm and pleasant nature, love is a unique feeling that makes life sweet, soothing and delightful. Every form of art, in its highest eloquence and its own pitch, contributes to the glorification of love. Painting has also been continuing to narrate the love stories of gods, humans, animals and birds with lustre. The internationally renowned artist Kalasuri Jayasiri Semage has decided to turn the pages of the chronicle of love for us to enjoy. He had his previous solo exhibitions with titles such as “Beyond the Horizon” and “Visa to My World”. What was the reason for the choice of the present title “Chronicle of Love”? Justifying his title Semage says, “I have been depicting the bright and delightful side of life. I never painted the gloomy side of life. My themes were on the innocence of village people, their sweet feelings, compassion and love. Even my own joyful memories of country life were subjects of my creations. When I am agitated or confused for some reason I never translate my feelings to pictures.

Only when I am cool and calm I endeavour to translate my thoughts into lines and shapes. When I am elated with happiness, love and joy I get unique pictorial images appearing in my mind. My new exhibition is named ‘Chronicle of Love.’

Mythological characters

To make the new title meaningful Semage has ‘chronicled’ how the historical and mythological characters in love stories of the ancient world enjoyed this delicate feeling of love.

He has not even let the stories of forbidden love escape his brush and canvas.

Royals and aristocrats appear in their traditional beautiful attire having their lips either sensing the softness of the lips of their lovers or tasting the sweetness of expensive wine. Their expensive jewellery, shiny silk clothes, uncommon shoes and sandals and other extravaganza take us to the yesteryears chronicled in classical history and mythology.

One might wonder how the artist sneaked into their forbidden chambers to bring us such ‘eye-witness’ narration of their intimate behaviour. For instance, in one of the extraordinary paintings he has depicted the subtle and lustful movements of King Kashyapa when he was in the arms of almost angelic beauties sharing a glass of wine and watching the heavenly dances.

The story of Chitra and Gamini, one of the most famous love stories in Sri Lanka’s history, is indicative of the pleasurable pain young lovers take to join hands in their struggle of love.

Semage, taking this story as a theme for one of his paintings, portrays the lust, joy and the sense of victory emanating from the intimacy of the young couple who have materialised their almost impossible dream of defeating the conspiracy of their uncles to keep Chitra a virgin for ever.

Semage has brought out multiple aspects of love using Kavantissa family as a context. King Kelanitissa misunderstood a Bhikkhu as his queen’s lover when the culprit was his own brother. The innocent Bhikkhu was put into a cauldron of boiling oil.

According to legend there was a tsunami as a consequence of the evil act. To save the country from disaster princess Viharamahadevi, the daughter of the king, was put out to the sea as a sacrifice. King Kavantissa married Viharamahadevi who gave birth to two children.

Semage catches the various shades of love in this story and sets his main focus on the patriotic love the queen Viharamahadevi instilled in her son Dutugemunu. He depicted the incidence of handing over of the golden sword to Dutugemunu by his mother.

Natural environment

In addition to being aesthetically pleasing Jayasiri Semage’s chronicle is historically educative and politically sensitising. The viewers can learn about the ways the ancient kings, queens and aristocrats dressed themselves. They may also imagine the natural environment and architectural scenarios of the ancient times.

Reminiscing the story of the nation may make young art lovers proud of their national past and heritage which may also make them patriotic.

The uniqueness of Jayasiri Semage is prominent in his inimitable style. Anyone who is familiar with Sri Lankan art will immediately identify his paintings without looking for his signature.

His identity is so evidently established in his style. He has drawn inspiration mainly from Ajanta-Sigiri art, yet, not constrained by tradition he has fully enjoyed his right to improvise. His Singapore experience in painting Mangala Vihara and Japanese exposure might have provided him an opportunity to familiarise with the East Asian vision of Buddhist aesthetics.

He has also been fortunate to study the rich western art during the days he travelled in Italy, Switzerland and Sweden.

He was ‘moralised’ to manage with Islamic culture when he had the challenging assignment of holding a solo exhibition in Oman. However, he did not create any issue there, as he had experience of clothing Picasso’s nudes as well.

His art has been ‘nicknamed’ by some critics as a melting pot since he has singularly and independent style of his own. His art is even more rhythmic and aesthetically expressive than much of the classic eastern art.

His lines, dots and curves fuse so uniquely with his colours in theme-appropriate compositions. All these admirable features could be seen in his forthcoming “Chronicle of Love” too.