Colours and shapes of a bustling Colombo
View(s):London-based artist Laknath Peiris, will have a brief display of his latest work at the Leo Burnett Quadrangle at No. 379 R.A. de Mel Mawatha today, July 12, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ‘Cityscapes – Bustling Colombo’ will feature a mix of abstract paintings that depict the diversity and vibrancy of city life.
Colombo by night- a Laknath cityscape
Having exhibited his work in leading galleries around the world, this is Laknath’s first in Colombo and is a celebration of where his love for art first stemmed from.
A combination of acrylic and oil paintings that artistically capture unique impressions of the hustle and bustle of Colombo and London by night, Laknath’s current collection displays the colours, moods and different aspects of life that make Colombo a vibrant city. Laknath loves travelling through the streets of Colombo, sketching and photographing moments of everyday life. In 2013, he was awarded a special merit award by Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery in the USA in its annual cityscape art exhibition.
“Painting is my greatest passion and a wonderful source of inspiration for me. Creating a painting from a blank canvas, and the process of bringing it to life gives me immense joy and satisfaction. In all of my paintings, I try to honestly express whatever I observe around me. I tend to use bold colours, along with different textures and brush strokes to create breathtaking and stunning impressions,” Laknath said.
Self-taught, Laknath has been painting and drawing since childhood. He studied at S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia and later apprenticed for a printing company, then graduating from the Watford College of Printing in London He worked in the printing and packaging industry for a few years in Asia and the Middle East and it was only when he began his MBA at the Newcastle Business School, that he was drawn back to the arts and began painting again.
Laknath is also passionate about painting elephants and other wildlife, and enjoys illustrating animals in their natural habitats. After focusing on wildlife, he moved his focus to painting cityscapes as he loves visiting the West End in London at dusk and capturing the lights and activity that characterize the city by night. He recently created a series of paintings titled ‘Vibrant London’ which beautifully captured the essence of city life in the West End.