The artist and her art
Vanishing scenes: Some of Marie Alles Fernando’s paintings done over the years on display
Large canvases lined the walls leading to the ballroom, the paintings the work of the artist herself. It was a grand and colourful launch as Marie Alles Fernando’s book on her work over the past 50 years – “A 50 year Retrospective” was launched on August 29 at the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton.
Her remarkable career with awards and accolades aplenty has seen Marie Alles Fernando’s work being exhibited on numerous occasions both locally and internationally –in countries and cities such as Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, New Delhi and London among others.
Marie Alles Fernando speaking at the launch
Initiating the exhibition, Marie’s living legacy – her children, spoke of her life and work, her past influences that included her late mother, landscape artist Genevieve Edirisinghe Alles with whom Marie held the first ever joint mother-daughter exhibition at the Lionel Wendt in 1972, her teachers, Ivor Baptiste and Prof. Douglas Amarasekera, and her mentor, chairman of the Sapumal Foundation Harry Pieris.
Her children went on to describe Marie’s unwavering love for the country (undoubtedly one of her biggest inspirations). Her famous “Tamil Bride” in 1968 and 1969’s “High noon, Adam’s Peak,Maskeliya” were fuelled by her stay in the hill country from 1967 – 1972.
Her youngest son Shanil Fernando, laughingly recalled how “a trip that would take three hours would instead take five” due to the numerous times Marie would stop to capture a moment. “Her art went everywhere with her,” he said.
Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe taking a close look at one of the paintings. Pix by Indika Handuwala
Marie’s dear friend, Yvette de Silva, who has been witnessing Marie’s work over the course of their friendship remarked, “she always manages to evoke different emotions.” Adding that “she is sensitive to her surroundings and conscious of her brush on a canvas” describing the social and historical contexts that Marie’s paintings continue to record, Yvette spoke of how her ability to capture the indigenous people of Sri Lanka is filled with honesty. “Our children have never seen this way of life and never will again,” Yvette added, of the urban and rural landscapes that Marie has painted over the past 50 years.
Mano Chanmugam, Chairman of the Colombo Cultural Hub Trust, who lived a good portion of his life abroad, thanked Marie for giving him memories of his country, truly valuing what he describes as a “precious record of artistic excellence”.
The artist thanked everyone in attendance, friends, family, her children and husband Cyril Fernando the epitome of “the wind beneath her wings” , ultimately dedicating her book – 50 years of painting – to her grandchildren who she said, are “the future of our country”.
Marie Alles Fernando- A 50 year Retrospective was sold out at the book launch. The book priced at Rs. 4000 can be purchased at the artist’s home . For more information contact 0112886845/ 0779 490 815, visit the Raintree Gallery or email marieallesf@gmail.com.