Enter a world of vibrant colours, forms, and sublime representations as renowned painter Jayantha Silva showcases his latest exhibition.
Titled ‘Expressions 18’ and going with the tagline ‘the exhibition with a human touch’ this event will unfold at Lionel Wendt Art Gallery on May 2 with the preview at 6.30 pm.
It will continue on May 3 and 4, opening to the public from 10 am. Escaping from his usual comfort zone, Silva has focused a bit more on portraiture and figurative art in the new chapter of his series though there will be a few sceneries there as well. It also marks the end of a 22-year-old venture of creating a series of exhibitions under the title ‘Expressions’.
“I have mixed emotions about reaching this milestone but see it as a transition into something new which I have titled as ‘Impressions’. This is a new step I took to capture emotions with a new canvas and point of view. ‘Expressions’ will always be dear to me and a main part of my journey,” Silva said, stressing that the ‘Expression’ series coming to a finale by no means signals that his art exhibitions are over.
A minimum of 100 paintings will be on display in ‘Expressions 18’. He has used charcoal, acrylics and soft pastels as his medium. These are three mediums he has mastered throughout the years and he feels that they are his comfort zones. In fact, according to him, he had thought of naming his debut exhibition ‘Impressions’ which reflects his ideas, feelings or opinions on something or someone.
However, it was his wife who had suggested naming it as ‘Expressions’ which suggested that it is an action of making one’s thoughts and feelings known. This move has brought him fame and fortune as the series had run for more than two decades, putting him in the spotlight as a skilled and prestigious artist.
Observe, absorb and transfer
“Restricting myself to a single style has never been my thing. What I generally do is observe, absorb and transfer what I have perceived with brushstrokes. It is an instinctive process. I try to make each artwork as real as possible and one which comes from the heart. They are pieces of work which reflect my honesty and loyalty to the subject,” he added.
A self – portrait
Renowned artist Jayantha Silva
Silva’s journey in the field gives the term ‘born painter’ a new meaning. His talents for art and painting came into the limelight just a few days after he was born. A bhikkhu delivered a prophecy that he would become a renowned artist when he was a four-day infant. Therefore, his parents have named him ‘Jayatha’, denoting victory and success. His talent shone from a young age through the scribbles he did on walls, the floor and almost anything he encountered with coloured pencils in hand.
“I believe art has always been my destiny. It has been written in the stars that I would choose to become an artist. I did not have formal training on the subject. However, I had a thirst for learning. What I portray on canvas is an outcome of my commitment to authenticity, instinct and memory. I love Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings but I have never tried to copy him.
My work comes from within as I bring memories, moments and emotions to life. I believe human beings resonate with that. It is a strong bond and I am grateful that I can share it with those around me. I am thankful to embark on this venture receiving immense support from the public. This motivates me to keep creating. Therefore, I don’t see it as an ending but the seeds of a new beginning,” he explained.
He held a mini exhibition titled ‘A Glimpse into Expressions’ in April at Shangri-La Colombo. That too has earned him raving reviews and one of his future plans is to continue this venture by holding mini exhibitions at hotels throughout the country, sharing his love for the art with the public.
Silva has exhibited his flair for art from a tender age. As a child prodigy, he has won many awards in art competitions. In one particular competition in 1969, he created miracles by winning the first, second and fourth prizes. Renowned judge and artist MudliyarAmarasekara was so highly taken by his talents that he offered the child a one-year scholarship to his art school. Unfortunately, as a child, Silva felt that one does not need to learn art formally. Therefore, he did not take the scholarship – a decision he regrets later in life.
First painting
His next stop was commercial art which he tackled after school. He has worked with popular agencies like Zenith Advertising, Nadarajah Press, Intersel Advertising, and Vision Advertising during this span. This led him to establish his own advertising company, Impetus Limited, in 1981. Once the company was steady Silva returned to his childhood passion – painting. The first painting he did was titled ‘Mother and Child’ which was purchased by a client in the UK. Soon he was on a painting spree, creating artwork for more clients and for ‘Expocoffee’.
His first exhibition was held in June 2003 at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery and was titled ‘Expressions’. It was a huge success as he was acknowledged as a distinguished artist almost instantly. Commenting on his work, one of the most eminent scholars in our nation, Prof. Ashley Halpe, said that Jayantha’s skill will allow him to become a well-known artist quickly. His words became a reality soon as more demand for his art poured in. The Lighthouse Hotel, Galle, even offered him the opportunity to showcase his artwork in a gallery constructed specifically for him in the hotel. The exhibition was held for three months and put his artistic flairs in the spotlight further. More accolades came his way as the Sri Lanka Tea Board awarded him a prestigious commission to do a 6’x11’ “Reception back” to be gifted to the Airport and Aviation office in Katunayake.
Successful
“I have been fortunate because from my first exhibition I have sold more than 2/3 of my paintings. At first, I had the impression that people are not that into paintings of scenery but there have been a lot of buyers throughout the years. Out of these only two are well-known people. The rest are all unknown individuals with hearts for the arts. That gave me a lot of encouragement to move ahead. My last grand-scale exhibition was held from November 30 to December 2, 2024. I sold paintings earning around 2.4 million rupees there. I also suffer from an issue related to my sight which gives me only 50 percent of my vision. However, ironically, it has made my observations sharper. It compels me to pay attention to specifics that others might miss. It has, in a sense, honed my creative sensibilities and increased my sensitivity to emotions and sentiments,” Silva explained.
He says that many tourists visited art exhibitions in the past years but the number dipped with the pandemic. Fortunately, the numbers are escalating now.
“However, there are many local buyers in Sri Lanka. This is encouraging. So things are definitely looking up” he stated.
