By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
WHEN Sri Lankan-born Ishira Kanathigoda moved to Australia three years ago he brought his talent for painting along with him.
Later this month the Casey resident will be showcasing and speaking about his paintings at Dandenong’s Walker Street Gallery as part of the Ancient Cultures New Futures exhibition.
Influenced in his early days by impressionism, all of Ishira’s art pieces displayed in the upcoming exhibition depict either Sri Lankan or Australian landscapes.
Ishira, who also works as a banker, said his passion for art began as a child when his mother, Piyaseeli, encouraged her son to take art classes.
“I was very interested in art, from a young age,” the 42-year-old said.
“I started drawing, and was into art when I was 14. My mother was a teacher and identified my talents.
“She was a history teacher but she had a very good taste in art and I was backed by my mother to come through this journey.
“In my childhood she took me to a private art school and I continued to keep on doing that.
“I didn’t give up.”
Through the 1990s Ishira was identified as a talented emerging artist in his home country.
“I did it as a hobby but I was a reputed figure in art in Sri Lanka, and demonstrated at a huge number of exhibitions,” he said.
But Ishira stressed that painting is more than just a hobby for him. When he moved to Adelaide and then Victoria with his wife, Hansanee, and his three children, pursuing art was never far from his mind.
“I was googling art events and that type of thing, to get involved in, and I found the Walker Street Gallery,” he said.
“I met with David (from the gallery) and he wanted to see my pictures and he was highly impressed with my work.”
In this way Ishira’s passion for art has not dimmed since moving downunder – if anything the fire is burning even brighter.
“It’s a valuable part of my life, it takes up a reasonable part of my day,” she said.
“There’s always a painting on my easel.
“It’s a way that I express all my feelings, good or bad and the other thing is that I get away from all the pressure during the day.
“I use that time to get into another world, through colours.”
For more information on the exhibition, contact Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre on 9706 8441.
