It is unique and richly diverse. Aptly titled, ‘Diverse Expressions’, 11 artists from different backgrounds, vocations and experiences, studying art under acclaimed teacher Lathifa Ismail have come together to exhibit their work.
The exhibition from August 25 to 27 at the Lionel Wendt, will portray the varied talents of these artists, inspired by their experiences, projecting both realism and fantasy. About 200 paintings including oils, acrylic, pastels, water colours and pencil sketches will be on display.
Some of the artists have been painting for years, while others’ talents have blossomed in a short time. All, however, echo Anne Wijayasekara when she says, “Lathifa allows you to express yourself, and explore your talent”.
Anne has always liked painting, but it has been under Lathifa’s guidance in the past 10 years that she feels she has reached the peak.
Age has been no barrier in developing the latent talents of the artists, for at this exhibition 19-year-old Dominic Ockersz, a student of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, and Sharmila Cassim who has a 10-year-old daughter are on a level playing field.
“I mainly focus on animals and use pencil sketches,” says Dominic, who practises the ‘Old Master style’, which is a picture being drawn as it is in reality, unlike the abstracts of Picasso and Matisse. Sharmila, on the other hand, experiments with her art, using metal, foil, tissue and sand in collage, which she calls, the “found object art”.
Housewife Shiffaya Ghafoor started drawing 10 years ago to make more use of her time. “It gives me a lot of satisfaction and calms me,” she says, as she dabbles in nature scenes using pastels, oils and occasionally charcoal.
Three years ago, boredom propelled Katheeja Jaleel towards Lathifa’s classes. Now she indulges in “inspirational art” where an image that pops into the mind is drawn on paper. “There is a picture in my mind and I try to bring it out. Sometimes it doesn’t come out exactly like it’s in my mind; at times it looks even better on paper,” she says, adding that she loves the process of oil painting rather than the outcome of it. “It’s amazing how colours play with each other in oil painting.”
Dushy Kapuwatte draws for a worthy cause. Passionate about animal issues, she uses pastels boldly to create intriguing abstract drawings that show cruelty towards animals. Being a firm believer that a large amount of money shouldn’t be spent on art material, Dushy uses basic pastels on black cartridge paper.
Starting with drawings of superheroes, specifically Marvel Comics characters such as Spider Man, X Men, Hulk etc. Yohan Pinto, 18, has already participated in several exhibitions.
Reticent about his talents, he only announces that his goal is to attend a prestigious art school abroad.
Dilanthi Uragoda Wijeratne always wanted to use oils for landscapes such as waterfalls. Although she sometimes resorts to pencil sketches, she says, “Oil is a medium you can manipulate. It’s obedient”.
Ishara Ahamed Sadiq is into still-life drawing, using as objects simple things like plates and curtain flowers, but beautifying them with the abstract use of colour.
Flowers with vivid colours “because they are soothing to the eye” are the forte of Hethumathie Karunatilake who has been Lathifa’s student for 20 years, while Dileeni De Silva prefers to draw animals, mainly birds, in water-colour.
For teacher Lathifa who has been guiding artists for 40 years, this is another proud moment when once again her students’ work goes on public display. Initially, she taught only children but now takes adults too under her wing.
This exhibition is one of many organized by her students to show their appreciation and gratitude to her.
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Dilanthi |
Shamila |
Dushi |
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Kateeja |
Dominic |
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Ishara |
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Dileeni |
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