For veteran artist H. A. Karunaratne, art is not simply a passion or interest, but an inner necessity.
Just as a poet would convey his deepest emotions in his verse, art is the language by which Karunaratne- popularly known as ‘Karu’ makes his voice heard. “The canvas is the means,” he says, “that enables the artist to convey the ideas that rise from the depths of his heart. It is not meant to be polluted with meaningless brush strokes harshly rubbed over each other. When I put something on canvas and I feel that no further action of mind is needed to fulfill my objective I stop the painting and let the viewer seek its meaning.”
Remaining enigmatically silent on what his work conveys, Karu challenges the viewer to take a look, and maybe a second look at his work and to decide what it conveys in his upcoming exhibition at the Harold Peiris Art Gallery from November 23 to 27.
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The artist: View art with an open mind.
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Part of the second Festival of Art hosted by the Lionel Wendt Memorial Fund to commemorate the 111th birthday of Lionel Wendt, H. A. Karunaratne’s exhibition of art and sculpture will feature roughly 35 pieces- the result of a lifetime of work. “We are really excited about putting Mr. Karunaratne’s work on exhibit,” enthuses Dilrukshi Wijenayake, the Administrative Secretary of the Lionel Wendt Memorial Fund. “He has been known to avoid exhibiting his work; and we are looking forward to giving the public a rare opportunity to experience the emotion he conveys in his art.”
“The main purpose of art is not exhibition,” states Karu, explaining the reason for not exhibiting his work for a while. “The desire to look at art and learn from it must come from the heart, and those who view it should do so with an open mind which does not conform to stereotypical impressions of what art should look like.”
At 82 years of age, Karunaratne walks through his house, observing the art which surrounds him. Whether it is a tin sculpture of the Lord Buddha given pride of place or one of many canvases stacked up in his workspace, each carries a memory and a mix of several emotions- a tribute to the language he has perfected on his own terms during the course of a lifetime.
“For as long as I can remember,” he recalls, “I have loved art- both the making and the viewing of it. I was never pushed into becoming an artist, and I am glad of it, because the desire to express oneself through art must come from within.”
Having completed his formal education in art at the Government College of Fine Arts in 1958, Karunaratne won scholarships to study art first in Japan and subsequently in the USA. When you start off as an artist,” he comments, “there are rules and regulations you must learn and follow as they assist you in technique and execution. However, I feel that every artist should reach a point where the conventional rules and regulations cease to be of importance and you reach the next level. There is no limit to the materials I use in my work. The pieces you see here are the result of a lifetime of work, and I have never been restricted to conventional materials or colours.”
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Staying true to his beliefs, Karu’s work gives creativity a new meaning. Nothing is pre-sketched or pre- designed. Colours are not mixed beforehand but mixed right on the canvas, creating an engaging, experimental effect which engrosses the viewer in a quest for understanding the emotions invested in the work while coming to terms with the boldly nonconformist style of the artist.
“Art cannot be stagnant,” he says. “It must keep moving like a river; constantly evolving and bringing forth new ideas. I paint when the mood holds me. There is no specific message that I wish to convey- I think the message would differ from viewer to viewer. I cannot pinpoint what it is that inspires me. When the mood arises, I paint in what one might say is an act of meditation. To me it is an act of faith and I stop when I feel that it is done.”
For Karunaratne, each piece is entirely different- a recollection of a different day; a different experience. “The time I take on a piece does not count. I could take a few minutes, a few hours, a day, a few days or more but the time does not matter; what matters is the experience of the work and the expression of emotion therein.”
Karu’s exhibition of art and sculpture will be open on at the Harold Peiris Gallery of the Lionel Wendt from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from November 23 to 27. |
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