Ruwan Prasanna has today become one of the most sought after local contemporary abstract painters in the Sri Lankan art scene. Represented by Saskia Fernando Gallery and on international platforms such as Artling, alongside work featured in public spaces including the Galle Face Hotel, Prasanna has consistently developed his oeuvre to create works that push the boundaries. An artist who began as a drop-out of the University of Kelaniya and later exhibited his works at the Kala Pola, he has grown by honing his own practice. The simplicity of concept in his works alongside the absolute sophistication of interpretation of light and space are not to be underestimated. The minimalism that is now apparent in his narrative is developed with a careful understanding and dissecting of his surroundings. A recluse by nature, Prasanna does not aspire to the work of his local peers, his pieces do not follow in the footsteps of other local abstract painters, his nature is such that he chooses to focus on his ‘own’ direction. 

He began as a drop-out of the University of Kelaniya and later exhibited his works at the Kala Pola 

In this exhibition Ruwan Prasanna presents the sequel to Komorebi; abstract canvases of haptic brushstrokes rendering the contrast of skies at twilight. These paintings are a continuation of the artist’s studies of landscapes and flora. Using a process that focuses on technique the artist’s gestural style is informed by a deep understanding of light and colour.

Text by RUWAN PRASANNA