APPRECIATIONS
View(s):Meditative strokes of this master painter will always remain
Jayasiri Semage
Jayasiri Semage who achieved remarkable fame as an artist was born on May 29, 1941 in a small fishing village in southern Sri Lanka. Educated at Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda, it was through sheer talent and dedication that he passed all six examinations held by the Royal Academy of Arts, London with Distinction and held his first solo exhibition as a schoolboy.
He began his career as an art journalist at the ‘Lankadeepa’ newspaper in Colombo. Later he became the chief artist of the ‘SUN’ and ‘Davasa’ newspapers and functioned in that capacity for many years. Semage belonged to that intimate group who travelled the length and breadth of Sri Lanka for the Government organised Gam Udawa (Village Reawakening) Programme in the 1990s.
Semage designed numerous Buddhist wall paintings in temples in Sri Lanka as well as abroad, displaying much expertise in the execution of Buddhist murals – scenes from the life of the Buddha and from other Buddhist stories, and episodes from the life of Buddhist kings of Sri Lanka. His paintings ranged from postcards to gigantic creations, some over 40 feet in length. These large-scale outdoor showpieces formed the decorative archways at exhibition parks in various parts in Sri Lanka under the Gam Udawa and adorned the Sri Lanka Pavilion at Expo exhibitions in Japan, Korea, Spain, Portugal and China.
Having bagged numerous national and international awards in his career as an artist, he was also accorded many honours including the Kalasuri (in 1990) and Kalabhushana (in 1999), a Doctorate of Arts from the Ceylon Society of Arts (in 2006) and National Award from the Sarvodaya Trust Fund (in 2007).
He developed his unique style based on the Ajanta-Sigiri tradition of medieval times while adopting modern forms and techniques. A unique facet of his paintings is their meditative, reflective quality. His paintings communicate a religious and spiritual sensation, leading to contemplation; the end product of which is an inner tranquillity.
Semage passed away on August 25 last year at the age of 84.
May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana!
Dr. H. D. Sumanasekera
The ‘toughie’ among the four of us at Pera, we always followed her lead
Noeline de Silva
I first met her in 1956 at the Hilda Obeyesekera Hall (HOH) on the Peradeniya campus during Freshers’ Week. We were the new entrants from different schools in the country and from different backgrounds and as such feeling slightly lost, wondering whom we could approach and make friends with. By the end of the week we had made friends. Noreen and myself from C.M.S. Ladies’ College, Metta from the Matara Convent, and Noeline from Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa became a foursome.
Noeline was the ‘toughie’ among us. When the rest of us felt a little homesick, she was always there to look on the bright side and assure us that we would be fine. Her encouragement helped me face the ragging we were subjected to. I remember one instance clearly: once a week a group of us went to the campus milk feeding centre to help distribute milk to the needy children living close by. The route to the centre went past Marrs Hall and some of the residents whistled and catcalled us from the balcony. We were taken aback and a bit upset but not Noeline. She looked straight ahead and walked on as if unaware of it all. We followed her lead and soon, I got used to this ragging and even enjoyed the comments.
Noeline was committed to everything she undertook, whether studies, sports or social wok. She was neat and tidy in her work just as with her clothes. She also made herself competent in whatever she did – a good example to her fellow undergrads.
In the second year, we had adjoining rooms with a balcony. We had decided to follow the Geography Special course and the adjoining rooms proved very convenient as we helped each other with tutorials, reference work and lecture notes. We both enjoyed studying geography.
Noeline was appointed a student sub-warden in her third year and continued in this post until we left campus. She took her duties seriously and would go to all sections of the HOH by herself to see that there was no noise from the rooms after 10 p.m. It was only after that that she sat down to her studies.
After graduation we went our separate ways. Noeline and Metta had graduated the year before and were already working. We kept in touch and met often to have lunch or go and see a film, or merely to just chat and snack. Amazing that we had been friends for over 60 years.
Noeline passed away three years ago. She fell ill after she retired but continued to visit me and we enjoyed these visits. In the last year however she was very sick and wished to stay in a place where she had company and was well looked after with medical attention. Metta and I could not visit her as it was too far away but I felt she was very happy there.
We miss her. May God bless her.
Marina
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