• Exhibition by the 2020 Group held from 21-22 Oct.

The 2020 Group recently took a journey into realism through its exhibition “TheTen”, which was displayed at the Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo 7, from 21-22 October. The exhibition featured the work of artists, Susantha Nanayakkara, Gunasiri Kolambage, Sunil Katugampola, Janaka Ratnayake, Shirani Nanayakkara, Nuwan Thenuwara, Rohan Dassanaieyake, Wasantha Siriwardena, Gamini Abeykoon, and Anura Srinath.

The 2020 Group, established in 2020, is a community of 10 artists who aim to support Sri Lankan arts and provide a platform to showcase their artistic creations to the art-loving public in Sri Lanka. This is the third exhibition titled “TheTen”, and 2020 Group Founder and Curator Sunil Katugampola said the exhibition is a continuation of a long journey towards rekindling representational art in Sri Lanka.

“I believe this notable event would be a strong footing in the global arena, where our group collectively represents creativity, talent, and skill together with the pride of our beautiful nation. This group is a collective of renowned Sri Lankan artists of wide experience, from different disciplines, practising distinctive styles, passionate about their work, and on a mission to reinstate a culture for representational (realistic) art in Sri Lanka and pave the way for international recognition,” he added.

Gunasiri Kolambage

Veteran artist Gunasiri Kolambage graduated from the College of Fine Arts, Colombo, studying under masters like Stanley Abeysinghe and H.B. Perera, and went on to specialise in watercolours under master watercolourists G.S. Fernando and Susil Premaratne.

Gunasiri has over 60 years of acquired mastery in practising a range of types, subjects, styles, and media. He has held 12 solo exhibitions locally since 1961 and has presented his work at numerous group exhibitions locally and overseas.

Janaka Ratnayake

A self-taught artist, Janaka Ratnayake has revolutionised the arts with his trend-setting cartoons and comic stories depicting facets of youth in Sinhala-language newspapers. He has gained a significant fan base during a career that spans over 50 years.

While some of his popular comics have been adapted to film and TV, Ratnayake possesses a unique realistic style as a watercolour artist. His forte is portraiture, figurative, and landscapes in watercolour as well as acrylics, and pen and ink.

Wasantha Siriwardena

Watercolour artist Wasantha Siriwardena has been practising in a realistic style in creating scenic pieces. He studied watercolour painting from renowned painter Raydon Gibbs, travelling and experiencing a plethora of scenes covering many landscapes and significant landmarks.

He is also an established editorial cartoonist and newspaper designer, and has been instrumental in taking a leap from hand-drawn illustrations to digital drawing, introducing infographics to local newspapers in 1994.

Sunil Katugampola

Artist Sunil Katugampola practices in realistic and impressionist styles, painting portraits, landscapes, and still life. He explores several media, including oils, acrylics, watercolour, gauche, and pastels. Katugampola studied at the Melbourne School of Art and the Mudliyar A.C.G.S. Amarasekera School of Art.

He furthered his studies under master portrait artist Saradias Lankathilake, master landscape artist Donald Ramanayake, and senior artist Roydon Gibbs. He has participated in 16 group exhibitions.

Anura Srinath

Anura Srinath shines as a multi-talented artist, cartoonist, illustrator, and comic artist working with various media to create portraits, landscapes, seascapes, still life, and line drawings. He was inspired by senior artist P.A. Leelarathne, who inspired him to explore arts from a young age.

Srinath has worked in media and advertising as well, and as an artist, he has showcased his work through 20 solo exhibitions and six group exhibitions. His ambition is to create unique paintings which no other artist has yet created.

Shirani Nanayakkara

A self-taught artist, Shirani Nanayakkara has found her signature style and uses multimedia such as oils, acrylics, watercolours, pencil, and pastel to practise representational art styles for portrait and figurative. However, her preferred medium is watercolours.

Nanayakkara is also a popular art teacher, and imparts valuable knowledge to her students through her own art school, Dhyana.

Gamini Abeykoon

Gamini Abeykoon’s 40-plus year career began in 1980 as a comic artist. Over time, he developed his own style of art, using a pen for line drawings. His speciality is ink line drawings of landscapes, figures, and portraits.

Abeykoon joined the field of advertising in 1990, and contributed to several major advertising campaigns. However, he continued to hold a solo exhibition and also participated in several group exhibitions. He has even drawn several stamps issued by the Department of Posts.

Nuwan Thenuwara

A self-taught artist, Nuwan Thenuwara shows great skill in figure drawing. He sharpened his skill by working with senior artist Jayasiri Semage, and works with styles such as portraits, landscape, and line drawings. He also shows great passion for nude drawings.

Thenuwara is a professional jewellery designer as well, with qualifications from Belgium. As an artist, he has presented his work locally and overseas.

Susantha Nanayakkara

With a preference for contemporary themes in oils depicting human emotions, lifestyles, and characters, Susantha Nanayakkara engages in many creative projects through Susantha Art House. He studied at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, and has also mastered batik designing.

He is also a set designer, and has contributed towards various creations for leading TV channels in Sri Lanka. He has also won various awards for his art over the years.

Rohan Dassanaieyake

Rohan Dassanaieyake is a versatile artist, working with watercolours, acrylics, mix media, line drawings, and digital media. He is always seeking new adventures in his passion for arts, and has participated in many group exhibitions. He also held a solo exhibition in Colombo in 1996.

Dissanaieyake works in advertising, and has also made a name for himself as a graphic novel or comic artist, illustrator, and scriptwriter.

(2020 Group)