There’s so much turmoil and destruction in today’s world, is there room for happiness? Sanjaya Senavirathna believes there is and this is what he hopes to portray through his art exhibition titled ‘Happy Mood’ now being held at the Paradise Road Galleries.
“Artists often portray social issues and the hardships faced by people. But what I hope to do through my paintings is to capture and create the happiness of the moment, because, I believe that when you are happy you feel you can do anything,” says the young artist, who has already held two solo exhibitions titled ‘Beauty of Love’ in 2007 and ‘The Gate’ in 2006.
He adds, “It’s all about promoting positive thinking and making people happy.”
Bright colours, he believes is the most apt way to portray happiness. The word ‘happy’ is also repeated in several of his works. This, he says, is a way of emphasizing the main theme. “You cannot identify a clear cut design as such but it’s an array of colours,” he says.
Sanjaya says he hardly draws according to a set plan. “I draw quickly and it’s spontaneous. I paint whatever comes to mind at that moment. Even if I have a plan, I hardly keep to it, the end result is something completely different,” he says.
Born in Kadugannawa, Sanjaya was interested in art and participated in art competitions while at school. Having followed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, he is currently awaiting his final results. In 2006 he was awarded the Young Artist of the Year at the Young Contemporaries exhibition presented by the George Keyt Foundation and has participated in several exhibitions including the Nawa Kalakaruwo and the international art camp in Ujjain, India last year.
Sanjaya’s work will be exhibited at Paradise Road Galleries till September 15. |
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