Plus

Arts

Drawing inspiration from ancient ruins and scenic hills
Born in 1952, the eldest in a family of five, Nihal Wickramaratne spent his early childhood in mountainous Meegahakiula in the Badulla district and subsequently in Anuradhapura where his young mind was awed by the ruins of the ancient city.

Having studied in the science stream in school, he was posted as an executive in a government corporation after the completion of his studies. Nihal now resides in Kandy, in Ampitiya where he draws inspiration from the scenic and culturally rich environment.

Nihal was able to bag the President's award for sculpture at the 115th annual competition organized by the Ceylon Society of Arts in 2002. He has also formed an arts foundation where he helps young children to learn and appreciate art by organizing exhibitions, competitions and workshops where visiting artists impart their knowledge to the would-be painters of tomorrow. Nihal doesn't confine himself to one medium only. He uses water colours, oils, acrylics and pastels as well as charcoal with equal ease.His first solo art and sculpture exhibition will be from May 29 to June 1, at the Public Library, Colombo 07.

Mosaics of old and new for daily use
'Mosaic, Madness and Me' is a collection of mosaic art by Alefiya Akbarally that will be displayed at the Hermitage Gallery, 28 Gower Street, Colombo 5 from May 29 to30. The exquisite collection would include traditional Sri Lankan patterns interpreted into mosaic art form, Art Nouveau styles and other conventional designs.

The method of making mosaics, an ancient art form that dates back to over 4000 years, has not changed much over the centuries. It has stood the test of time and is increasingly popular today as a versatile contemporary craft.

Art in various forms is Alefiya's passion. Having expressed her ideas and thoughts through painting in her childhood days, taking to the mosaic art form seemed a natural progression. It was her recent travels to Italy and Spain combined with her special love for Islamic art and architecture that fuelled her desire to try out this art form. The fascinating pieces such as tables, mirrors, wall hangings, sign boards, etc are not only aesthetically beautiful, but can also be put to practical use.

Back to Plus