Ours is a country that had made emphasis on agriculture from the ancient times. Farming culture is an essential component of the rural community of our country.
Various practices, rituals and Wap Mangula were much respected and adhered to not only by the masses but also by the Kings and leaders of this country.
During the Harvest season, ‘Kamatha’ (Threshing ground) becomes a sacred symbol of rice cultivation playing a vital role, seeking blessings of the Gods. Kamath Yanthra symbol is a huge drawing done with ash on the threshing ground depicting the tools and animals related to farming life.
An artist with a difference
Lasantha Chandana Kumara is an academically qualified abstract artist who does his paintings solely on paddy cultivation sphere. His paintings presented in nonfigurative form revolve around green paddy fields, tools, various apparatus and rituals associated with paddy cultivation and harvesting. On the verge of his upcoming exhibition of paintings, Lasantha engaged in a discussion with the Daily News.
“My parents who have moved from Gampaha to Dehiattakandiya engaged in paddy cultivation as a profession. As a child I spent most of my time in paddy fields with them, enjoying the greenery and birds. I had an inborn talent to draw and my instincts aroused me to draw what I saw and experienced in this environment”, he commented.
He added, “Eventually after entering the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo, I made a liking towards abstract art. Hence my way of painting evolved with time and I now follow an advanced presentation style bringing to fore the beauty in local paddy cultivation sphere”.
Harvest
Artists create visuals in their mind before putting it on canvas. Lasantha having his own unique style has carved a niche among his peers.
Lasantha Kumara’s first exhibition of paintings was branded as Kamatha. Harvest, being his second exhibition will be unveiled at Barefoot Gallery, Colombo on June 12 (Tuesday) at 7 pm. The exhibition will remain open until July 1.
On weekdays Harvest will be open for public from 10 am to 7 pm and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.
“In my works, I try to illustrate the changes that have occurred in the modern-day threshing floor culture as against what we have used in the past such as the Kamath Yanthra. Today we see how the social, economic and political factors have crept into this culture of thrashing ground”, said Lasantha.
Harvest consists of semi-abstract paintings to blend with shapes involved in the sphere.
“There is a huge demand from foreign countries for abstract paintings hence it is a lucrative profession too. I focus on blending this style with my passion towards innovative artistic creations on local paddy cultivation”, said Lasantha, who is a school teacher.
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