Lakshitha’s world made of clay
View(s):Lakshitha Karunadhara isn’t too happy about missing soccer practices. “I like soccer,” he says, whirling around in a swivel chair at his parents’ office. Taking time off his usual afterschool routine Lakshitha who turned 12 in May is making his debut in the art scene with his sculptures.
Hoping to showcase around 40-50 pieces at his forthcoming exhibition, Lakshitha remembers the first piece he created. “It was a seal,” he smiles- his favourite animal at the time. Taking a step back to a few millennia ago, his world is currently overrun by dinosaurs. “My favourite is the Tyrannosaurus Rex,” he says, leaning over to make sure we got the spelling right. “I’ve made it about a hundred times,” he explains, adding that he starts anew when he isn’t satisfied with the anatomical features of his work.
In under 5 minutes, clay morphs into a convincing Triceratops, and another five minutes later he produces a T-Rex to battle with his former creation while telling us somewhat despondently that he is “only allowed to play with my clay in the weekends.”
The ability to sculpt was the first but not the only unique feature the Karunadharas noticed about their son. “He never asked for expensive gifts,” shares Channa, the young sculptor’s father, relating how all their son would eagerly wait for was clay. This was rarely denied to him following the visually accurate penguin he produced at the age of four. “We also noticed unlike most young children, that he would ritualistically separate the colours after creating models which have always remained animals,” Channa says to which Lakshitha interjects with a logical response- “If you mix artificial clay together it just turns grey.”
An eye for detail: Lakshitha with his dinosaur models. Pix by Indika Handuwala
Not a star student, they also noticed their son’s struggle to maintain concentration unless he was manipulating clay into the animal of his latest fascination. It wasn’t until Channa and his wife watched what he thinks “was a Salman Khan movie, about a person with special needs” that they found the screen telling an all too familiar tale and thinking perhaps Lakshitha too had similar needs. Connecting the dots he says “a specialist then directed us to the Lady Ridgway Hospital” where their son was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.
They decided to tackle it head-on, Channa recalls. “We were honest about it, and his school- Gateway College has been very supportive.” In fact he says it was upon the school’s prompting that the family is now preparing for Lakshitha’s maiden exhibition called ‘My World’.
His grades have spiked dramatically since Gateway started using a scriber for his tests according to Channa. Marks which barely grazed 60s on a good term rocketed straight to A’s for science since the school’s interest in catering to Lakshitha’s different requirements.
Lakshitha also plays soccer and badminton, the latter seems to have better effect, says Channa. Nothing however comes close to capturing his attention like sculpture which led his parents to have him placed under the tutelage of Prasanna Colombage.
The exhibition and school are just two of the projects Lakshitha is currently busy with. “I’m working on building a zoo, with animals past and present,” he shares. Reeling in reinforcement he says “my little sister and Suranga Uncle, our driver, are also helping me.” Aspiring to become a vet in the future he says “I like animals, they’re cool.”
Included in the exhibition is his “greatest creation,” the fabled Indominus Rex from the latest blockbuster Jurassic World. Lakshitha and his family invite you to take a peek into his world at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from July 18-19 from 10.30 a.m -5.30 p.m.