Rajitha Lasantha Mudannayaka is a talented Sri Lankan artist whose work embodies the many people and landscapes of his country. Using a series of lines, he depicts a mixture of traditional and modern Sri Lankan scenery in a style as vivacious as his personality.
When asked what inspires his art, he responds “daily life”. He finds inspiration in the ordinary, and sees anything and anyone around him as his next potential subject. As a result, his artworks encapsulate a mixture of Sri Lankan wildlife, village culture, and modern living.
Amidst the scenes of Kandyan drummers and stilt fishermen, a three wheel “tuk tuk”, a snorkeler or a surfer will show up unannounced. It’s not uncommon for his focus to be portraits of newly befriended strangers. A golfer in traditional Kandyan attire, surrounded by birds and cattle with a freshly caught fish in his hand is the expected energy of his art.
Originally from Biyagama, Rajitha started his artistic journey as a child. Once he started drawing, he simply never stopped. His work caught the eye of the late Sri Lankan artist Noeline Fernando. She arranged a scholarship for Rajitha to attend the Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts where he gained a formal artistic education.
He fondly recalls his introduction to pottery, sculpture, and the human form at this Academy.
However, acrylics and watercolour remain his favorite media with pastels and chalk used to create textures. Rajitha’s art is recognizable by the well defined flowing lines that mark his distinct style. The weaving lines are a combination of the abstract, and traditional emblems from his Sri Lankan heritage. In the midst of a kitesurfer’s portrait are, seamlessly blended in, moonstones and lotus flower motifs commonly found in temple art. It’s easy to picture his work as a stone carving.
Whatever the medium, his work is always steeped in creativity, his love of life and exploration, and the chaos and flavour of this tropical island. Rajitha's art is a small window to his unique background and exuberant world view.
His work has travelled across the globe via international exhibitions and found many homes overseas. Commentary on his artwork has included calling him a “Sri Lankan Picasso” or “the next George Keyts”. As flattering as these are, Rajitha is neither and will instead be the “first Rajitha Lasantha” with a distinct and stand-alone style of his own.
Why Should Sri Lankan Artists be Recognized?
Art is an expression of the human experience. Be it a prehistoric cave drawing or an abstract installation, art provides information and a portal across time and continent into unique human lives.
Traditional art is art that forms part of the culture of a distinct group of people. The preservation and recognition of this type of art, is a preservation of skills, values, aesthetics and cultural identity.
When we recognize local artists and their contributions, we are increasing creative diversity. We are making the global art space an inclusive one. We are sharing an artist’s unique perspective and experiences, and with this, we are preserving human stories.
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