‘And into the forest, I go, to lose my mind and find my soul’ - John Muir. So says Iranganie and daughter Chandima Wickramasinghe as they launched their collection of paintings, WHISPERING FORESTS at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery.
Ask Iranganie and Chandima and they will reveal a wonderful and everlasting relationship as they pay homage to the endearing beauty of forestry.
When one begins to learn the craft of painting, must never imagine where it would lead her. Firstly, she must be disciplined, self-confident and believe in herself. Especially with no formal training under a Master or an academy of art. The road can be frustrating until she hits the right spot on target. This is the discipline of a successful painter. For recognition from art circles, one must learn the craft of painting, grinding of colour and preparing canvases to develop individual artistic expression. By comparison, these two individuals became one. They who had a close relationship with nature proved highly advantageous in their career; one opting for the riot of colour; the other simple black and white. With the same mission in their minds, dazzled the art circles. Same love and devotion to forestry, the woods and jungle, green patches and burgeon of Sri Lanka came conceptually alive. This was the theme of their art; the stillness of the greens, the glimpse of the heavens peeping through the crowded branches and twigs; a world flooded with clear light in an arabesque shade and black/white each superseding in radiance and masterly design. This immense significance though apart, may have tied mother/ daughter bonded a relationship through life. I experienced a sense of music and/or poetry in their art softly brush pass me, rising above and sweeping through the windows of the Lionel Wendt.
AN EVENING BY THE LAKE (2017) Pen and ink on paper, 45cm x 66cm.It is amazing how Chandima has trapped the undisturbed water and its gentle rhapsody where one has to strain and take a deep look to feel the impact. The wide gap between the central tree and the ones in the distance is of a photo finish sharply executed in the restricted medium of pen and ink. Every detail is accurate as they meet the eye. The scales and lines in an obviously old tree spread its branches in contrast to the fresh young plants afar. There is depth and movement in the painting.
STILLNESS OF DAWN (2017) Acrylic on canvas, 150cm x 90cm.
A range of artistic expression, energetic and free-flowing brushwork of Iranganie gives way to space and warm glowing colours that are limitless in her scenery. No doubt, she is able to grind colours to make the requirement before they are places on canvas.
One can get lost in the delicate beauty of the gentle dawn in her brushwork and feel a sense of serene atmosphere arise from the woods. Hidden are such treasures in the wilds of our country and it takes for an artist like Iranganie to tap our hearts and make us focus our eyes which otherwise go unnoticed.
UNDAUNTED - (2017) 33cm x 28cm, Pen and Ink. This was a thriller and I was rather disappointed at the scale of the drawing. It should have been double the size as it hung on the wall. I was transfixed at the majesty of the beast who was loud and clear as I felt the might of the Lord of the jungle, the majestic king done in stronger tones of black and white and the contrasting gleam of stark white. The way of the beast, imposing and reflecting his power through to scribbling and scraping of a pen; makes one wonder how the genre painting rises to such heights. UNDAUNTED would still have been more impressive and spectacular done in the reverse. I mean upon black paper with a white pen, That is if Chandima can find a white pen which I doubt very much (or pale ivory) and the lion will roar back to life immediately.
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