To Laki!
View(s):- An ‘Experiential art festival’ hosted by the Artra magazine will highlight little known aspects of this rare artist
By Yomal Senerath-Yapa
Drawing or creating as the mood seized him, he remained essentially, unburdened by his genius or his oeuvre.
Laki at Diyabubula: At one with nature and below, his distinctive animal sculptures. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
The art magazine Artra’s next issue will be dedicated to Laki (1937-2021) as they host an ‘experiential art festival’ alongside the launch on March 4 and 5 at the Jetwing Lighthouse, Galle, where Laki’s sculpted handrail – majestic and breathtaking – inspired by an old Portuguese-Sinhalese battle is a key feature.
Mintaka Senanayake
Founder-editor of Artra, Azara Jaleel became a friend and regular habitué at Diya- bubula, the rustic retreat off Dambulla where Laki lived bare-chested in vibrant sarongs, and would have equally long ‘banters’ with the artist when he made one of his unwilling forays to Colombo when he would enjoy a fish roll with Dominic Sansoni and Azara at the Barefoot Garden Cafe.
The Laki that Azara knew was ‘wickedly human’ she sums up, and he shared a bond with her in that they were both drawn to trees and nature. Some of the most magical surreal moments at Diyabubula for Azara were at dusk, against the sculptures of owls and full blooded beasts in the jungle, when speakers would pour forth orchestral music.
The oncoming festival she says will be replete with art talks, exhibitions and tours (see box for full programme). 
Azara says that while Laki’s achievements in the public sphere are familiar – the Parliament chandelier of silver palm fonds; the Kandalama sculptures and the ones at Bentota Beach Hotel; the batiks at the boardroom of the Chartered Accountants Head Office), the more intimate Laki is not known.
It is this aspect they will bring out, culling from personal collections of family and friends, from Laki’s only daughter Mintaka to Dominic and Nazreen Sansoni, Anjalendran, Channa Daswatte, Michael Meyler and Murad Ismail.
The contributors at the festival are all experts, Azara says, from Laki’s friends, architects Anjalendran and Ismeth Raheem to Michael Meyler who has done extensive research on Laki’s currency notes, where Laki surpassed himself with designs of indigenous bird and beast poised against tropical flora; mynas and palm cats against talipot trees; spur-fowl and chameleon against orchid-wreathed forests.
Michael says the unusual currency notes were in circulation in the 1980s when he himself chanced on our shores but ‘sadly not for long’.
An overlooked aspect explored is Laki’s writing: as spontaneous and ebullient as the art. A poem dedicated ‘to Eleanor Raheem’ reads:
David Robson
I left behind my kuday
In a wayside kadey,
And some feckless fella
Made off with my old umbrella.
So to ease the pain
I stepped out singing in the rain,
Slipped and fell in a drain,
And broke a bone in my collar.
The festival aims to look at the rare alchemy that made Laki Senanayake the unquenchable spirit that he was.
Jetwing and Sri Lankan Airlines are the main partners for the festival.
| The festival programme at the Lighthouse HotelSaturday, March 4 2.15 p.m. to 3.15 p.m. | Art Talk Sculptures, Drawings & Figurines of Laki In conversation with Ismeth Raheem Cinnamon Room (Ticketed event) | Locals 3,500LKR | foreigners 20USD 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. | Official Launch of ARTRA Magazine’s Laki Edition 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. | Art Tour Sunday, March 5 10.45 a.m. to 11.45 a.m. | Art Talk 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Art Tour 4.30 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. | Art Tour | |
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