• Exhibition of sculpture and paintings to open on 27 May

An exhibition of sculpture and paintings by Dr. Manoranjana Herath will open at the JDA Perera Gallery on 27 May. Titled ‘Shades of Emotions’, the exhibition will continue until 1 June. The opening day also marks the launch of three books by Dr. Herath: ‘Siththaru Dutu Amuthu Saththu’, ‘Indu Lanka Drushya Kalawe Sameepa Roopa’, and ‘Bherunda Pakshiya: Prabhawaya, Bhawithaya, Saha Vikasanaya’.

Dr. Herath is a visual artist with nearly three decades of experience. He currently serves as a senior lecturer at the Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Visual Arts, University of the Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo.

He obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture from the Institute of Aesthetic Studies at the University of Kelaniya in 1997. This was followed by the completion of his Master of Fine Arts in sculpture at the College of Arts, University of Delhi, India, in 2002. He went on to earn his PhD from the University of Kelaniya in 2011.

Dr. Herath’s extensive career has been marked by active participation in numerous national and international exhibitions, workshops, and programmes, indicating his dedication to research and creative innovation.

“I have been engaged in creative work for about three decades, which is a significant part of my life. During this time, I have brought many projects to life, each inspired by different ideas, themes, concepts, and forms. All of these creations are inspired by my life and the world around me, either directly or indirectly. They reflect my perspective on society, as well as my personal likes, dislikes, and beliefs,” he said.

Dr. Herath added: “While I do not aim to convey a specific message, that does not mean there is no meaning. My goal is to express the inner feelings of humans and blend them with various forms of art.”

Speaking about ‘Shades of Emotions’, Dr. Herath said that the collection is centred on three key themes or segments: ‘Princess in My World’, ‘Untold Narratives’, and ‘The Kiss’.

Referring to the first theme, Dr. Herath said: “My princess is a breathtaking beauty. She steals hearts, but as I get closer to her, I can feel her lamentation, her sorrow, and her loneliness. I brought those who bore the grief into a sculpture.”

About ‘Untold Narratives’, he said: “To me, the face is not just a means of identifying a person; it tells the story of their background and environment. It represents an untold narrative of an individual, a group, or a cultural and societal situation. My aim is to capture these characteristics through the face. I strive to express the emotions of those isolated yet hopeful individuals through my paintings.”

Dr. Herath added that he has completed a considerable amount of creations under the theme of face. These can be seen in his work since 2017. A face is an expression of identity, he said, adding that it brings us various ideas of expressions. “I gave it all my effort to bring that diversity into the paintings. You can enjoy the diversity of faces made up of different colours, shapes, and forms,” he added.

Creations under the theme ‘The Kiss’ look at Dr. Herath’s journey with love and affection, which he said is deeply intertwined in the work. “Through the series ‘The Kiss’, I express my emotions and experiences more effectively,” he explained.