Finding art after retirement
“There was a space after retirement and I looked through that space and finally found myself!” says self-taught artist Swarna Abeytunge who after working in the corporate sector for 40 years, reignited a long put aside passion for art. “Art has made my retirement life very beautiful” she smiles.
Swarna will present ‘Artful Blend’, a collection of her works done over the course of the past 1 ½ years on July 15 and 16 at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery. The collection comprises 66 works mainly on canvas with acrylic along with a few in mixed media.
Like most children, Swarna loved to draw but unlike many was not restricted from drawing on the walls of her home. This freedom to express herself along with her father’s artistic skill is what she believes set the groundwork for her talent.
However when in 1985 she began studying for the Chartered Secretaries degree from the UK and went on to join leading conglomerate Hayleys, she moved away from art to focus on her career which saw her holding the post of Group Company Secretary.
Swarna retired in 2021 and since then, it’s been painting that occupies her days. She paints what she sees, feels and believes, all linked under the umbrella of Lankan culture. “I want to give a message to the people through colours because it can influence people in many ways,” she says highlighting the importance of visual language.
Swarna Abeytunge
“I initially wanted to name the exhibition ‘Diversity’; maybe due to my ‘corporate thinking’ after serving in the corporate sector for more than 40 years. But my nephew Shehan and niece Buvini argued that I should not stick to corporate thinking anymore and to think in terms of art. Then I realized that I should create a bridge to minimize that gap and hence came up with ‘Artful Blend’.” Currently a full-time artist, Swarna has her own digital art gallery ‘Suwapinthaaru’ on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook
Having discovered a new passion, she says, “No matter who you are, what you are, where you are, if you have a dream, go for it at any age or at any stage of your life.”
To her contemporaries, she says: Don’t throw away your life after retirement. You can do more!
‘Artful Blend’ will be on at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery on July 15 and 16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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