An artist who loves to make people laugh
View(s):By Shaveen Jeewandara
It’s that time of the year when calendars are much sought after and gifted and received with much anticipation. Anyone who has been following the tradition would remember the little one stealing kavum from the frying pan in April, the elder ones flying kites in August, and the whole family taking flowers to the temple on Poya days – in a well-known annotated calendar. The proud creator of these calendars, Anura Srinath is a veteran in the field of creative arts. In fact it has been 33 years since he first started drawing comics for a well known newspaper firm.
Specialising in comics and cartoon art, Anura has delighted countless readers over the years and after the success of his maiden exhibition in August last year, his sights are set on the second edition of “Anuralokaya” .
“Anuralokaya, the first edition of my exhibition held in August last year was a collective display of all my works (of 27 years) and it was an immense success,” he says with justifiable pride. He is now intent on taking the exhibition out of Colombo to young aspiring artists in all parts of the country. “If I can inspire a young one to take up art, and show them the whole new world captured within the frame of an artwork – then my purpose is served,” he says.
Anura joined the newspaper industry soon after his schooldays and found his niche in the comics column. “It was a satisfying job, you make people laugh and there’s nothing better that you can do.” He will draw anything and everything though- comic strips, landscapes, portraits. “Cornering yourself into one scope would only limit your potential, I prefer trying out all the facets of art.”
Having worked as a freelance artist for eight years, Anura moved on to be a visualising director, and says this helped widen his scope.
The art of comic strips or chitrakatha was dying, but he believes he has been able to be a major contributor in its recent revival.
“Anuralokaya II”, will be held on January 11, 12 and 13 at the Old Dutch Market (Nupe Junction) Matara, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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