Born in 1951, Senaka Senanayake is one of Sri Lanka’s best-known artists. His brightly hued canvases of the country’s flora and fauna draw attention to its rapidly depleting rainforests. Senanayake studied Art and Architecture at Yale, which impacted his decision to make a career out of art. Following this he moved back to Sri Lanka and delved deeper into environmental issues.

“Senanayake’s paintings are gorgeously positive, his... Born in 1951, Senaka Senanayake is one of Sri Lanka’s best-known artists. His brightly hued canvases of the country’s flora and fauna draw attention to its rapidly depleting rainforests. Senanayake studied Art and Architecture at Yale, which impacted his decision to make a career out of art. Following this he moved back to Sri Lanka and delved deeper into environmental issues.

“Senanayake’s paintings are gorgeously positive, his forests wearing saturated runway colours, his birds right out of an ancient fable. His style is often criticised as being purely aesthetic, but it is by no means emotionally inert. In fact, his work is an ironic reminder of the fading beauty of his world, a hope against hope that whatever is left of nature can be conserved. It is equal parts celebration, elegy and documentation of the fragile rainforests of Sri Lanka.” (V Shoba, “Senaka Senanayake: Life Is Beautiful,” openthemagazine.com, 15 July 2016, online)

Senanayake has held several solo and group exhibitions in Sri Lanka and around the world. His works have been exhibited in Europe, China, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Czechoslovakia, Korea and Egypt. His work has been documented by Metro Goldwyn, British Movieton News, BBC TV in London, Yeo Soo TV in South Korea, TV Austria, and Star TV in India. Several acclaimed magazines and journals have reviewed his exhibitions and written about him, including The New York Sunday Times, Washington Post, London Times, Weser Kurier, UNESCO Features, National Geographic Magazine, and Asia Week.

The artist lives and works in Colombo.

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