Black and white close encounter with the wilds
Indika: Self-taught artist. Pix by Mangala Weerasekera
The leafy backdrop of Stratford Avenue provides the perfect setting for the pencil sketches of leopards that adorn the Gallery Red- Gandhara this weekend, as artist Indika Wijewardhana presents, “Whiskers: An Artist’s Perspective of Wild Life”. From black and white drawings of the big cat to several other creatures of the jungle, the 30-piece collection is Indika’s first solo exhibition and showcases his love for wildlife through pencil drawings and photography.
Having grown up in Kurunegala, a student of St. Anne’s College, Indika’s artistic education began at home. Learning to draw under the tutelage of his father, himself a self-taught artist, Indika never received any formal training in the subject either. “It’s probably in the genes,” he laughs. While he studied art only for his O/Ls Indika who holds a degree in Financial Mathematics and Industrial Statistics from the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo managed to find time to pursue his passion amidst his studies. “I received a lot of openings to pursue art while at university,” he recalled, describing his proudest moment – being the leader of the decorative team at the convocation of the University of Colombo (2009) where President Rajapaksa received an honorary doctorate.
Currently employed at Borderlands Lanka Pvt. Ltd. where he works as an event coordinator, Indika now 27, smilingly explains that he is happiest while at work. “I used to work as a research analyst. But seated behind a computer didn’t make me happy,” he admits. Always a lover of the great outdoors he was a member of his school explorers club and president of his university’s explorer club as well as being an active sportsman.
It then is no surprise that his solo exhibition is dedicated to one of his great loves; wildlife. The idea of making the leopard his main focus came to Indika while on holiday. “I went with some friends on a trip to Wilpattu about seven months ago,” he says, explaining how after several futile safaris in the hope of seeing a leopard they headed back and for their luck, seated close to the park entrance was an adult leopard This was his first sighting of a leopard in the wild and transfixed, he and his friends spent a good three hours watching and taking pictures of the big cat.
Browsing through Indika’s many sketches of Sri Lanka’s most sought after, elusive predator, the ordinary observer would immediately understand the artist’s own perception of the big cat. Most of his pieces are devoid of scenery and landscapes, drawing sole attention to the animal, with intricate detail and attention given to every individual spot on its coat down to the very expression in its eyes. “I want people to see the leopard as they would in the wild,” is Indika’s simple description of his work. He has visited all the national parks in the country. “When I go to a park I always try to remember that we are entering the animals’ territory. We are only visitors to their home, and so we need to treat them with respect,” he says. He would like to create awareness among people as to the value of Sri Lanka’s great predator now increasingly threatened.
Being 100 per cent involved in the exhibition from the artwork to production, organisation, etc. he takes at least a week to complete one drawing. When he needs to take a break he finds bliss and inspiration in hiking and trekking. Having recently been selected to a masters programme in Geographic Information Systems in Japan it maybe a while before we get the opportunity to see more of his work. “After I finish with my studies I want to travel the world, ” he admits, and contrary to the conventional travel destinations of artists such as Italy and France he yearns to visit places such as Ladakh, Shimla in North India, known for their unique wildlife and environment. He harbours however, a great desire to come back home and continue the work he loves.
“Whiskers; An artist’s perspective of wildlife” a pencil and photography exhibition by Indika Wjewardhana is on today, December 15 at the Gallery Red- Gandhara, Stratford Avenue from 10 a.m to 8 p.m.