11 July 2023 12:08 am Views - 402
Artist S.H. Sarath having a discussion about his works with Poj Harnpol Thai Ambassador to Sri Lanka (centre)
Lately an arts exhibition took place from May 23 to July 4 at Siam Niwasa, the premises of the Royal Thai Embassy. The event was held with the participation of diplomatic officials along with the Thai Ambassador to Sri Lanka Poj Harnpol and President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Veteran artist S.H. Sarath received National Honours for arts - “Kala Soori” award in 2017. Apart from that in 1993 Sarath designed the Provincial flag of Western Province in Sri Lanka. This exhibition was held under the theme ‘ordinary life relationships and the experiences’.
Speaking with Daily Mirror, Thai Ambassador to Sri Lanka Poj Harnpol said that the artist- whose work was exhibited at the exhibition- was educated in Thailand. He said that Sarath had attended one of the prestigious universities in Bangkok. Further he expressed his happiness in organising this exhibition at Siam Niwasa, which previously served as the Embassy of Thailand in Sri Lanka from 1984 to 2001.
“This is the first time we exhibited the work of Sri Lankan artists and we hope that Siam Niwasa will be a cultural venue that reinforces relationships and special bonds between our Sri Lanka and Thailand,” added Harnpol.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror ‘Kalasoori’ S.H. Sarath added that he has been involved in the field of art for more than 55 years. He had visited Bangkok to complete his Phd and he shared some of his experiences with this writer.
“In Thailand, even a fisherwoman is very stylish, but in our area fisherwomen are totally different. Therefore I gained a different experience in arts in Bangkok, Thailand. The more we show our poverty, the more we become poor from the inside too,” added Sarath.
He also expressed his happiness because he was able to exhibit 90 (ninety) pieces of art at this exhibition. He was given three separate rooms at Siam Niwasa to exhibit his work.