PRSFG presents the inaugural exhibition in its new space, ‘Sobāthma’ – a solo exhibition by Jagath Ravindra.
Sobāthma becomes a time capsule, as it envelopes the viewer in a sweeping embrace of pulsating tropical colours. The fleeting phenomena that Ravindra depicts such as the quivering of a waterbody on a moonlit night, the wisp of a midnight cloud passing by a hill, and the golden brilliance of a tree in bloom continues to play in a loop, transporting the viewer into a moment suspended in ephemeral time. While rooted in the impressionist tradition and celebration of Claude Monet, Ravindra’s practice finds its own contemporary expression in the abstract, balancing personal introspection with universal resonance.
Jagath Ravindra
With a career spanning three decades, Jagath Ravindra is a leading figure in contemporary Sri Lankan art. His works are characterized by an exploration of fleeting moments, captured through an interplay of colours and a heightened sensory experience enhanced by scale. Blending the Impressionist pursuit of transience with the evocative visual language of abstraction, Ravindra reimagines ephemeral moments through a uniquely tropical lens. His practice strikes a balance between personal introspection and universal themes of memory and existence. Ravindra served as the former Dean of the Faculty of Visual Arts at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo. His work has been exhibited internationally in Bangladesh, Dubai, Nepal, the UK, Pakistan, Korea, and the Maldives, and is housed in the permanent collections of the Xi’an Art Museum and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
In Ravindra’s work, recognizable forms are distilled into their base essence, expressed through the choice of colour and the intuitive movements of the brush. The artist engages in recollection, allowing his memories and the experiences to frame his recreations on canvas and paper.
The tonal variations and subtle nuances are shaped by the changes in time and weather as the artist recalls them, with Ravindra rendering each transition with a delicate touch. From the play of light as the day breaks over misty peaks to the serene sway of water lilies gracing the tranquil surfaces of still waters, Ravindra encapsulates the emotional core of an experience and revels in these ephemeral moments. The sheer scale of his compositions magnifies this emotional experience, with bold swathes of color adding layers of depth and dimension. In Sobāthma, Ravindra creates a dialogue with impressionist Claude Monet, seeing in his visual language a precursor to the abstract movement. Sobāthma reimagines the ephemeral experiences that were an inspiration to Monet through a distinctly tropical lens, infused with the warmth and vitality of Ravindra’s surroundings and cultural understanding.
Sobāthma by Jagath Ravindra will run until January 9 at PRSFG.
