Aryawansa Perera

Although his father’s wish was to educate his son to be a great practitioner in Ayurvedic medicine, life had a different plan for Aryawansa.

He gathers inspiration from researching and exploring Sri Lankan and Buddhist history. His artistic approach intertwines history and the present through his mesmerizing storytelling. He has developed a close kinship with the folklore of his motherland, visualizing her stories beautifully and expressively.

The world of war, life, death, victory and defeat of ancient Sri Lanka is depicted in the form of graphically striking images that allow the physicality of nature and history to reveal itself. Aryawansa turned out historical scenes such as the ‘Battle of Mulleriyawa’, the Portuguese destroying the Fort in Jaffna, and the arrival of Prince Vijaya into wonderful masterpieces.

Working with oils, watercolors, charcoal and mixed media, Aryawansa employs a rich and fresh color palate that capture the essence of rich history. A great sense of depth and nostalgia is created through his great influence by classical paintings. The paintings highlight the realities of life and are enhanced by his skill and effort at rendering lifelike figures with his sharp eye for manipulating proportion and s...