Art endures not in galleries but in hearts of those it inspires
‘Art on wartime’
A. Mark, believed that art should not be an elite pursuit—it should belong to everyone. An artist who persevered through impossibly tough times, he inspired others to do so. An exhibition of his work happening this week in Mannar will be a long-overdue recognition of an artist who shaped generations, proving that art endures not in galleries but in the hearts of those it inspires.
Born in 1933 in Gurunagar, Jaffna, Mark brought modern art to a place where it had largely remained traditional, often resembling temple paintings. He studied at St. Patrick’s College and later trained under David Paynter at the College of Fine Arts, Colombo, graduating in 1957. While he mastered classical techniques, he did not confine himself to them. As his student Kamala Vasuki puts it, “He did not focus on the high-flown art he learned in university; instead, he adapted to using whatever materials were available, placing emphasis on expression rather than technique.”
Mark was not just an artist—he was a teacher and mentor. From 1957 to 1976, he taught art at Hardley College, Point Pedro, and later at Kokuvil Hindu College until his retirement. One of the first lecturers to teach art in Tamil, he also gave lessons for free on his front porch, asking only that his students repay him by passing on their knowledge to the next generation in the same way.
Though he never wanted to hold a solo exhibition, he organised exhibitions for his students, ensuring their work was seen. Through the Holiday Painters Group (1958–1967) and later through informal classes at his home, Mark played a vital role in shaping Jaffna’s artistic landscape. His early works were religious, often executed in watercolour wash techniques, but by the 1970s, he shifted focus to community issues, favouring raw emotion and distortion over realism.
Self portrait: From his time in the College of Fine Arts, Colombo
The war in Jaffna transformed his art. As the socio-political turmoil intensified, artists struggled with both an urgent need to express themselves and a dire shortage of materials. Mark refused to let scarcity stop him. He encouraged his students to create with whatever they could find—glossy magazine paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, and even broken shell fragments from explosions. He exhibited his students’ work on damaged school walls and in open spaces, proving that art did not need a gallery to be powerful.
During the embargo, he reshaped discarded materials—PVC pipes, bicycle pedals, and other found objects—into sculptures. Around 20 of these pieces were saved and kept at the Fine Arts Department of Jaffna University before being returned to his family.
In 1995, the war displaced him. He fled to Vanni and later Mannar, where he was struck by paralysis. Confined to a wheelchair and with reduced mobility in one arm, he persisted. Believing his past work lost, he recreated it from memory—unaware that friends (A. Jesurajah of Alai Journal and Thrimumarai kala mantram) had salvaged many of his paintings from the ruins of his home.
Mark painted and taught until his last days in Mannar, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, resourcefulness, and an unyielding belief in the power of art to endure even the darkest times.
He passed away in 2000.
| The exhibition: Students do it all | |
| In 2023, Mark’s students hoped to organise an exhibition to commemorate his 90th birthday but were unable to do so. During that time, a WhatsApp group brought together former students and well-wishers, leading to a remarkable discovery—many of his paintings had survived the war. A. Jesurajah, a friend writing a book about Mark, had preserved numerous works and gathered others, ultimately handing over a collection of nearly 400 paintings to Mark’s family. Additionally, 20 sculptures, kept separately, were also returned to them.Now, after years of planning, 70 of these paintings and 20 sculptures will finally be exhibited. This exhibition is a voluntary effort by Mark’s former students and well-wishers, who have dedicated their own money and time to make it a reality.The initiative is led by Kamala Vasuki, one of Mark’s former students working closely with his family with support from other students.The exhibition will be held in Mannar at Field Street, Sinnakadai, from March 13–16, and will be open daily from 9.30 a.m.to 5 p.m.
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