Sri Lanka Visual Culture

Swanee Jayawardene at the National Art Gallery

A retrospective exhibition of the works of Sri lankan artist Swanee Jayawardene was organized by the Theertha Red Dot Gallery and held at the National Art Gallery (Colombo), from 10th to 13th August 2012. Displaying a total of 107 works, the exhibition is a ‘component of the Women Artists’ Program of Theertha[1]’ International Artists Collective.

The exhibition – curated and coordinated by Theertha member and artist Lakisha Fernando, took over six months in the preparation where Lakisha and other members of Theertha worked closely with the custodians of Swanee Jayawardene's legacy of artworks, in researching and documenting the prolific and multifaceted career of Jaywawardene's career as an artist.

Associated with the legendary '43 Group, she was one of the younger artists inspired by the experimental and fresh stylistic turns of the group who exerted a seminal influence on Sri Lankan art.

The retrospective exhibition that ran at the National Art Gallery displayed drawings and paintings utilizing a variety of media including pastel, pen, acrylic as well as oil paint. Other than her career as an artist and a devoted art teacher, Swanee Jayawardene is also remembered as an innovator of 'Batik' techniques and introducing the unique method of 'tie and die', which was a popular trend for t-shirts and other casual wear for several decades.

  Dogs Playing, 1994, Oil on Board, 51 x 63.5cm