Chaminda began to show an interest in painting since childhood. From the early 90s he has been recognized as an upcoming force in the art arena. Due to the dedication to his art, he has received numerous awards including State award for the outstanding painter of the year, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka in1996 and Sri Lankan entry to the Coca-Cola Bottle exhibition, USA for 1998 Olympics. He had few solo exhibitions in 1997 at Heritage Gallery, Colombo, in 1998 at Heritage Gallery, Colombo, in 2000 Freedom February, Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo. And 2016 and 2011 at Barefoot Gallery, Colombo.
Most paintings in this collection are my experimental works during a period I call “The Lost Years.” The crux of this exhibition resides in the artist’s process of turning abstraction into tangible emotion. Through the various styles, my work is a dialogue between texture and space that coalesces into an evocative narrative.
I would like to draw your attention to two selected themes. “The Landscape of Sri Lanka” and the “Moons in Front of You” series.
The Landscape of Sri Lanka: Postcards Series.
A postman might ride a bicycle many kilometers to deliver one simple postcard. His route might take him past fine scenery. He has no time to stop and admire. He passes mountains and rivers, mansions and cottages, plains and forests, trees and flowers, fire, and water. In his fleeting interactions with Sri Lanka’s diverse topography, he becomes an inadvertent chronicler of nature’s ceaseless masterpiece. But, he might be the person who sees our landscape better than anyone else. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see what his eyes have seen, over the years?
Moons in Front of You:
The moon you and I see, through non-figurative art. I have employed diverse materials like handmade and acid-free paper, natural turmeric powder, and acrylics. I wonder about your thoughts when you see a number of soft, pure moons at once, and the presence of the idea it prefigures.
