A brush with the wilds
View(s):“Petrichor’- self-taught wildlife artist Tharanga Herath’s exhibition of natural history paintings is now on at the Lionel Wendt Gallery and will continue tomorrow, Monday, March 4th as well.
Passionate about wildlife since his childhood, Tharanga studied at Nalanda College, Colombo and after graduating in Fisheries and Marine Science has been immersed in marine and wildlife conservation activities and nature-based tourism. He has an extensive knowledge of Sri Lankan wildlife gained through his own field studies and research.
Tharanga has been painting wildlife for over 25 years now and has illustrated publications on endemic birds, common wetland birds and common butterflies of Sri Lanka for the Wildlife Trust and Sri Lanka Turtle Conservation Project. Five of his paintings were among 130 artworks of 29 acclaimed artists shown at the Art & Vielfalt (wildlife art) exhibition held at the Museum of Natural History in Magdeburg, Germany in 2018. He was the sole Asian artist chosen to participate. He also reached the finalist stage in Russia’s Golden Turtle 2019 International art contest and wildlife festival held in Moscow and St. Pietersburg, again the only Sri Lankan among the 30 finalists of the 1261 artists worldwide who were registered in the competition. He took part in the Mandala International wildlife art exhibition in Singapore in 2015 as well.
The exhibition showcases around 50 original paintings and illustrations done in acrylics, watercolour and gouache that depict Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity.
Entrance is free.
The exhibition is open today (Sunday) and Monday, March 4 from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Art Centre, Colombo 7.
A wide range of wildlife: Some of Tharanga’s paintings for ‘Petrichor’
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