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His reality is surrealism
By Ishani Ranasinghe
Surrealism is a mindset that painter Jagath Ravindra prefers to reality and that is what is reflected in his art. Starting out in the early 1990s, he has earned a significant place among contemporary artists. With national and international experience, Jagath has also won many awards.

'Born through the Earth' will be his eleventh exhibition in a series which has been developing on one idea. "In this exhibition too the theme I have chosen like all the others is imaginary," says Jagath. He sees man as being isolated even though he is a social being living in society.

"Almost all artists highlight the side that there is no unity in society," he adds. But what he wants to do is show the positive side, the ability of man to overcome any difficulty. "When it comes to destruction we have always had the strength to face it instead of falling," he explains.

His paintings, all abstracts, are acrylics on canvas and paper, using the earthy shades of yellow and brown. "I am someone who uses colour to bring out the themes," he says. Through colour, he hopes to catch a person's interest and imagination.

A visiting lecturer at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies of the University of Kelaniya, his field is 'Philosophy of Art'. "What influences me is philosophical thought that connects with me," he says, adding that when in school he was introduced to the world of art through comics. "I came to appreciate art through them."

Jagath Ravindra’s exhibition of paintings is on at the Paradise Road Galleries till January 8.

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