Canvas of trust
‘Painting on painting’: One creation, two artists. Pix by Amila Gamage
It is not completely uncommon for two artists to collaborate on one work of art if there is a common theme.
But Dileepa G.W. and Mahesh Indika in their exhibition at the Lionel Wendt next weekend are pushing their creative boundaries in an original way – fusing together their very different styles, materials and themes to create 14 pieces of art.
The idea was born out of a mutual admiration for each other’s work. Dileepa, an art collector and artist had seen and enjoyed Mahesh’s work although he had never met him.
It was perhaps a moment of fate which resulted in them meeting through a mutual friend, when Mahesh had brought some paintings over to his house.
They began exchanging ideas until one day they decided to take the next step which was to actively merge their ideas using paint.
The pair explained they “began seeing on a single canvas what we had initially stirred together verbally” and this resulted in the name of their new concept: ‘painting on painting’.
To undertake this exciting project, the pair have had to display an enormous amount of trust and respect for each other.
Due to the amount of time and labour put into each individual painting it is not unusual for artists to become very possessive of their work. But these artists trust each other enough to allow the other to create and add to their own work, on the very same canvas.
Mahesh and Dileepa: Together on a new venture
To do this – one rule has been laid down: do not paint over or change the canvas, instead be sure to merge and add. The concept depends on teamwork and “together” is the name of the exhibition representing the shared journey the artists have gone through.
For the concept to work they have had to take plenty of time planning and discussing before they actually started painting. It was crucial for them both to understand fully the other’s themes, they say.
Interestingly their styles and subject matter are very diverse. Dileepa paints in oils and bases his work, mostly self portraits on Buddhism and self-discovery.
Inspired by the Buddhist teachings of the mind and abstaining from desire, Dileepa signs many of his paintings ‘mala’ or flower, which he takes to represent Buddhism.
His specific theme at the moment is the third precept, which talks about abstaining from sexual misconduct.
Mahesh elevates the collage medium, cleverly combining acrylic paints and magazine cuttings to create his animals that explore the idea of equality and display human qualities.
He explains that this evolved when “his hand was subconsciously filling the space of the animals with human material and human virtues and vices.”
The hardest part of the process was figuring out how to fit into the other person’s work. This took hours of discussion and Dileepa explains he has spent over two days staring at one canvas working out how he is to incorporate his creation onto Mahesh’s work.
This first exhibition is in a sense a trial run where they aim to bring something new to the art world. They are pleased with this first set of experimental art and have great hopes that this concept has the potential to grow.
As both artists have a good market for their individual pieces, they feel that this exhibition is more of a creative venture which they have embarked upon to learn and grow as artists rather than as something which they want to earn a profit from.
Future plans include starting up a society in order to guide others into “painting on painting”.
‘Together’ will be held at the Lionel Wendt art gallery on February 13 and 14 from 9.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.