Segar back with his signature shapes and bold colours
The Segar Gallery at Cinnamon Lakeside looks as though it might overflow at any moment, its walls holding the artist’s works over many years; the paintings echoing his signature use of geometric shapes and exotic shades of colour. Following his most recent work done for World Habitat Day, Segar is busy with what will be his 39th exhibition, not at this gallery but at the Sifani Gallery in Colombo 3.
Segar’s love for art goes back to his childhood. Although he never pursued art as a subject, his passion for the subject found the youngster seeking out many exhibitions of local artists such as Senaka Senanayaka and finding inspiration in the works of the greats such as Picasso, Dali and Indonesian painter Vincent Manzela. A keen student with a self-professed love for mathematics, Segar’s unique style encompasses several such elements and is characterised by smooth brush strokes and geometric patterns, not to mention his vibrant use of colour.
Progressing from his initial picture postcards which brought him into the public eye, he moved onto to portraits and landscape painting, his works being picked up by Zam Gem Company and several hotel bookshops. Establishing himself as a prominent artist in the local art scene Segar would go on to find himself being among the select group of Lankan artists, among them Senaka Senanayaka and Iromi Wijewardena to be featured on the back cover of the Readers Digest.
‘Self taught’ is not how Segar describes his education in the arts. “I don’t think anyone is self taught” he concedes, “you always have to learn from someone.” He finds inspiration in everything from the exotic to the typically mundane, he says. “I can even be influenced by music” he interjects, imagination playing an important role in creating art.
Segar: Staying true to his interpretation of animals
Imagination is essential in order to truly enjoy a Segar painting. His gallery hosts oils of tuskers and deer; both flora and fauna. However drifting away from the realistic, extensively detailed pieces one is accustomed to seeing, Segar’s animals echo Dali-ish undertones; resonating the abstract
“I’m not going for a realistic approach of animals,” he says, staying true to his own style and interpretation.
His latest collection holds over a year’s work of around 30 pieces paying tribute to wildlife, religion, his signature paintings of Asian women and the lifestyles of people all with a distinctly local flavour. Having tasted the lifestyle of a full time professional artist, Segar is immune to the roller coaster life faced by him and his contemporaries. “There are a couple of months where you can go without a cent,” he very candidly says. “When this happens, I just go in and paint. Put all my feeling on the canvas.”
An Exhibition of Art by Segar will be held at the Sifani Gallery, 86 Galle Road (opposite the Cinnamon Grand Hotel) from November 14 to 16, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.