Have you ever visited an Art Gallery Sri Lanka has to offer for the lovers of art and paintings? Sri Lanka is a country rich with an ancient Buddhist civilization after the epic event in history where Buddhism was introduced by India and embraced as the Island’s major religion, during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa (247 – 207 BC). Since then Buddhism played a significant role in evolving and developing a great tradition of pictorial art known for its vibrant simplicity to transform blank walls of Buddhist shrines and rugged rock surfaces into marvelous colorful figurative forms of paintings that generate joy and spiritual growth within the devotees.
The genius of Sri Lankan painters who were instrumental in bringing worldwide recognition drawing tourists from around the globe to the island due to its renowned paintings such as Sigiriya and Ajantha bithu sithuwam (wall paintings) have not been individually recognized for their valuable contribution. The purpose of the Sri Lankan Art Gallery, the CSR arm of John Keells Group, John Keells Foundation (JKF) is to offer upcoming and renowned Sri Lankan artists a platform to recognize their talents and to sell their work and develop a global clientele. It is also with the interest of empowering Sri Lankan artists to gain confidence in continuing their beautiful creative artistry in the form of paintings that enhance the truth and values of Buddhism and pass it down to future generations.
Buddhist paintings are centered on the key figure and the founder of Buddhism, Lord Siddhartha Gauthama Buddha. His life story, stories connected with his life, tales of his previous incarnations (Jathaka katha), various deities worshiping him, representations of different hells and heavens are some that are used to depict pictorial stories across the nation. The Sigiriya paintings (Frescos) of beautiful women offering flowers that suggest religious worship which is an art of spiritual symbolism stands among the most famous and historical paintings in Sri Lanka.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.