Animals leap out of scrap metal
View(s):
Working magic on metal: Lalith’s sculptures
Lalith Senanayake’s latest exhibition of sculpture opens on January 24 at the Gandhara on Stratford Avenue, Colombo 5. Scrap metal welded and bent in his hands becomes an awe-inspiring work of art. His immense creativity and persistence in this new medium follows many years of practice as an artist working with oils on canvas, a cartoonist and then a lay-out artist in several national newspapers.
Just a few pieces – of ants and a bird made him take on a path that he never imagined of doing. The ants and the bird were only meant to decorate his painting exhibition. Yet they caught they eye of renowned architect, Anjalendran who urged Lalith to “continue to create more of them.”. Over time it kindled in Lalith the desire to create and to explore this new, more challenging field.
His task at hand is to give meaning to a rusting pile of nails, nuts and bolts made of iron. In a matter of minutes a nail entwined in a coil of wire becomes an ant. After a chain of ants, this illusionist and creator decides next to give flight to a bird of prey. From disorder and chaos to a beautiful piece of workmanship with meaning.
Helping Lalith to look at his creations with a different eye are his children Yani and Pawan. Lalith is thankful for the immense companionship they and his life’s companion Ruwanthi give him.