Contemporary artist Laknath Peiris to host exhibition at Leo Burnett
Laknath Peiris, a London-based Sri Lankan artist will be showcasing his latest collection of work at the Leo Burnett Quadrangle located at No. 379 R.A. de Mel Mawatha on 12 July 2015, from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. The exhibition will be held under the theme ‘Cityscapes – Bustling Colombo’ and will feature a mix of abstract paintings that depict the diversity and vibrancy of city life.
Laknath’s main pieces are a combination of acrylic and oil paintings that artistically capture unique impressions of the hustle and bustle of Colombo and London by night. The paintings are featured on high quality boxed canvases that are ready to hang, and are created to effortlessly brighten up the interiors of homes, offices, galleries and hotels. The use of vibrant colours is prevalent throughout Laknath’s work, and helps create a sense of reality against striking abstract structures and backgrounds.
His current collection of work displays the colours, moods and different aspects of life that make Colombo a world-famous and vibrant city. Laknath loves travelling through the streets of Colombo, sketching and photographing moments of everyday life, which he then incorporates into his work and exhibitions. In 2013, he was awarded a special merit award by Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery in the USA in its annual cityscape art exhibition. Having exhibited his work in leading galleries around the world, this exhibition will be his first in Colombo and is a celebration of where his love for art first stemmed from.
Commenting on his work, Laknath Peiris stated, “Painting is my greatest passion and a wonderful source of inspiration for me. Creating a painting from a blank canvas, and the process of bringing it to life gives me immense joy and satisfaction. In all of my paintings, I try to honestly express whatever I observe around me. I tend to use bold colours, along with different textures and brush strokes to create breath-taking and stunning impressions. I am a self-taught artist and have been painting and drawing since my childhood. I studied at St. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia and after leaving College, I worked as an apprentice for a printing company. Thereafter I graduated from the Watford College of Printing in London and worked in the printing and packaging industry for a few years in Asia and the Middle East. When I started my MBA at Newcastle Business School, I was drawn back to the arts and began painting again.”
In addition to painting cityscapes Laknath is immensely passionate about painting elephants and other wildlife, and enjoys illustrating animals in their natural habitats. His artwork is gaining popularity around the world, and has been sold to private collectors in London, Australia and across South East Asia. After focusing on wildlife, he moved his focus to painting cityscapes as he loves visiting the West End in London at dusk and capturing the lights and activity that characterize the city by night. He recently created a series of paintings titled ‘Vibrant London’ which beautifully captured the essence of city life in the West End.
Following many years of intense research, Laknath has developed his own style by creating a variety of impressions that express movement and the illusion of depth- an effect that the layering of paint can produce. His work has also given him the freedom to express his emotions, rather than simply creating representations of the real world. Above all, his artwork is a genuine reflection of his inner-most personal feelings, thoughts and observations.
To find out more about the artist and exhibition, visit www.paintingsoflakipeiris.weebly.com
