PLACES, PEOPLE & PASSIONS (3Ps)

Part nine

Dr. Chandana () Jayawardena DPhil
President – Chandi J. Associates Inc. Consulting, Canada
chandij@sympatico.ca

Profile

Shanaka is a graduate of the Medical Faculty, the University of Colombo. He studied visual art at the Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts and is now completing an MFA degree at the University of Kelaniya. He has won many awards, and most recently won the first place in the portrait art category in the State Art festival. He has done two solo exhibitions at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery and has displayed his works in numerous group exhibitions. He has also participated in a few international artist workshops and exhibitions. Shanaka’s favourite area in visual art is human figure and portraiture.

First Meeting in 2003

I first met Shanka, at my elder sister’s house in Borella, when I was on holiday in Sri Lanka with my wife and kids in 2003. “Chandana Mama, meet Shanaka, one of my batch mates at the Medical College. Mama, like seeya and you, Shanaka is an artist,” my nephew Suran introduced another shy youngster to me. Soon I became pleasantly surprised that most of Suran’s friends studying to be doctors had artistic talents. Suran was studying both classical and western music, Shanka was studying visual art, another was an excellent photographer and a few others were musicians performing in bands.

“Thaththa, during my time at Ananada College, the best students who made it to the medical college hardly had any artistic talents or time to pursue hobbies. They all were studious and fully focused on their respected careers in Medicine. How come Suran’s batch mates find time to be engaged in artistic hobbies?” I asked my father, who had intelligent answers to any question. “Chandana, this is a new generation of future doctors. They seem to be far more versatile and better in multi-tasking than most of their predecessors” was his answer.

Shanaka presenting me the portrait of my late wife in April 2023.

After a few years, we eventually manipulated Suran to admit that he has a girlfriend. He reluctantly introduced to us a beautiful medical college student a few years junior to him, Varuni. We were surprised that she was a part-time singer, model, and actress. Today, Suran and Varuni, while working as doctors and doing their postgraduate medical studies in the United Kingdom, and raising their seven-year-old son, find time to sing in London during the weekends. Their friend Shanaka works hard in Sri Lanka as a doctor in the day, and as an artist in the evening.

Open for Tips

During my annual trips to Sri Lanka over the next six years, I regularly met Shanaka at my sister’s house. I identified his as a budding landscape artist. He was humble and unassuming. He was also hungry for advice and tips, which my father generously provided to him. Every year I witnessed Shanka blossoming from a shy amateur landscape artist to a confident master visual artist. During his internship from 2010 to 2012, Shanka was very busy and I did not see him too often.

During Suran and Varuni’s wedding in 2013, I met Shanaka again. “I now do life drawings and portraits with pencils and charcoal. May I do one of you?” he offered. Soon he became an excellent portrait artist. Every time I saw Shanaka’s early commissioned work at Varuni’s parents’ house and my younger sisters house I continued to be amazed with his attention to details and patience to accommodate client demands. One day he surprised my father by presenting him with a beautiful 96th birthday present – a portrait of my father. That was Shanka’s way of saying, “Thank you for the tips and support, Uncle!”

Shanaka with wife Chathu, and daughters Diyana and Sonara at his studio

Experimenting and Winning Big

During his busy career as a doctor, Shanaka never let his hectic schedule deprive him of using opportunities to explore and experiment in visual art in Sri Lanka and overseas. He was a part of an Artist Exchange Program / Exhibition where he visited Ningxia, China. During this sponsored trip to China, he gained valuable experience in appreciating an ancient civilization and a rich history of visual art and improving his work.

Finally, handsome dividends were paid to Shanaka for his commitment, passion, and hard work when he won first place in the portrait art category in the State Art festival in 2021.

Arriving at Shanaka’s studio in Piliyandala with my elder sister and brother-in-law, Janaki and Premalal Kuruppu, just before the traditional new year in 2023, was a rewarding experience for me. We were warmly welcomed by Shanaka who directed us to climb open air iron steps towards a second-floor room. This top floor adjoining his house is his rustic studio nearly full of masterpieces of his work.

His two daughters, already active visual artists at age seven and five, are regular visitors at the studio. Shanka and his wife, Chathu, have no rules prohibiting their offspring to paint on the walls of their sitting room and dining room. All walls are covered with free style art work done by their daughters. Such freedom for creative expression is, indeed, refreshing, and inspiring!

A Commission close to my Heart

I commissioned Shanaka only once. A few months after my wife Mélaine passed away in 2021 at age 54, I wanted a portrait of my wife, using her homecoming wedding photo taken at Mount Lavinia Hotel. As that image is very close to my heart, unknowingly I became a very difficult customer to Shanaka. I rejected a few early versions of the portrait when Shanaka sent me photographs of work in progress.

“Come on Doctor, you need to get the correct colours as per the reference photograph! My wife’s hair was nearly black and her eyes were blue” I insisted on changes to his work. When he said to me, “I will do my best, Doctor, to make you happy. This is the first time I am doing a portrait of a foreigner, from a photograph. All others have sat in front of me for around six hours.” I understood his challenge.

After several back-and-forth communications, Shanaka eventually produced a beautiful masterpiece. I look at it every morning while having my morning coffee and thinking of my memorable 23 years with Mélaine.

Questions and Answers

Q: Out of all the places you have visited in Sri Lanka and overseas, what is your favourite and most interesting place?

A: National Art Gallery: I was about 10 years old when I first visited there. And I think it was the most influential and inspirational place to me as a 10-year-old child and up to date. That is the only place where you can see a large collection of realistic works by old masters and I was sad that it was closed for several years. I also like Sigiriya mainly because of those timeless frescos.

Q: Out of all the inspiring people you have met, who inspired you most to pursue visual art?

A: I have studied visual art under several teachers. My first teacher was Mr. Lionel Ranaweera. But my biggest inspiration was Prof. Chandraguptha Thenuwara who taught me the discipline of figurative art. That is an experience which is hard to find in a country like Sri Lanka. I was lucky enough to study under him.

Q: At the present time, what is your key passion in life?

A: Fine Art will be my passion forever. It gave me the confidence and strength for my other studies and to the pathway of becoming a doctor. But later, I realized that I was born to be an Artist. Now it has become an addiction.

Q: For how long did you study at the Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts?

A: I Joined VAFA in 2001 and studied there until 2013 from time to time. It was interrupted by the years I spent in the medical school (2003-2009) and during my internship (2010-2012).

Q: How did you fair at the Speculo Art competition organised by the Sri Lankan Airlines?

A: I did well. I am looking forward such events in the future to exploring new dimensions as an artist and to get rid of local Art Mafia in this country. I am trying to be a true artist which may be not that practical in the fake art field today.

Q: Why did you theme your last solo exhibition: ‘Soul Windows’?

A: Most of the times I use sitters, live models for my paintings. While painting I try to capture their emotions and personality. Eyes are very important in expressing emotions in a person and in painting a portrait. Therefore, by the meaning of “Eyes are the windows to the soul” I named it ‘Soul Windows’.

Q: Have you introduced any new concepts in visual art?

A: Yes. I now do live wedding paintings in weddings. This is a new concept in Sri Lanka although can be seen in other countries. I use oils which a challenging but an interesting medium. I go to the venue of the wedding a little before the event and start painting the background and decorations. It might vary. And according to the clients desire I will paint either poruwa, first dance, or just the couple or a scene from the occasion.

Q: What was the most challenging commissioned work you have handled?

A: Recently I did the portrait of the Mr. P. J. Harpol the Thai ambassador as a live painting. He was very helpful by spending time to pose and complete the painting and it was one of the very successful portraits done by me. I am glad that I was able to paint a good art lover like him. His traditional outfit he had chosen for this painting was very inspiring.

Q: What does your schedule of a normal working day, look like?

A: After finishing my hospital work I try to come home where my studio is located and my wish is to start painting as soon as possible to get the maximum use of time. I don’t wait till I get the mood of painting , as I am automatically in that mood .

Q: As a full-time doctor and a full-time visual artist with a young family, how do you balance your work and family life?

A: I get maximum support from my wife. I spend some time with my seven and five-year-old daughters whenever I get opportunity. I have my studio attached to my home which makes it easy to work while handling household stuff. I take breaks in between painting to refresh my mind and to get some distraction, which is useful in problem solving in painting.

Thank You!

This is the last episode for 2023 of my column: PLACES, PEOPLE & PASSIONS (3Ps). I thank the following nine outstanding and versatile Sri Lankans, who have made significant contributions to their chosen fields, and inspired me to learn and write about them.

Malinda Seneviratne , a journalist who is also an award-winning poet,

Iromie Wijewardena , a best-selling female visual artist,

Gemunu Goonewardena , a hospitality entrepreneur focusing on sustainable development,

Dr. SinhaRaja Tammita-Delgoda , a historian, author, and an award-winning film maker,

Simon Senaratna, a lawyer, CEO , and a pioneer in tourism,

Deshabandu Dr. T. Publis Silva , a chef who is now considered a national treasure,

Professor Suranga Silva , a university professor, and a leader in tourism,

Sohan Weerasinghe, a lawyer turned ever-green western musician.

Dr. Shanaka Kulathunga, a doctor turned award-winning portrait artist.