PLEIN AIR EXHIBITION
“Art is contemplation. It is the pleasure of the mind which searches into nature and which there divines the spirit of which Nature herself is animated” Auguste Rodin.
Emulating a similar ethos is Plein Air Painting. Plein air, which translates literally as “in the open air” is a form of art that encourages the artiste to leave the confines of the art studio and experience painting and drawing in the landscape. The art form was once revolutionary, championed by French Impressionists like Monet and Pissarro. The desire of the artists to paint light and its changing, ephemeral qualities, coupled with the creation of transportable paint tubes and the box easel—the precursor to the plein air easels of today—allowed artists the freedom to paint “en plein air”. This, in turn, they contend, conveys the experience of being there as opposed to recreating based on photographs. Plein art has flourished the world over and artists gather for paint outs, embarking on experiences that are as rewarding as they are powerful.
Yoshita Ahmed will be coordinating an art workshop, and will be painting alongside fellow international artists who have flown down for Plein Air Painting sessions in Sri Lanka. From the 14th to the 20th of February, the artists will travel to various locations where they will paint en plein air; “a series of outdoor scenery painting sessions in many areas (Negombo, Kandy, Sigiriya and Pinnawala) and we will be painting in different touristic locations. It is a diverse group of senior artists, each having different creative artistic backgrounds and are travelling from around the world to introduce their unique Art styles to Sri Lanka” Yoshita explained. “They are all very excited to experience the Artistic and Cultural background of Sri Lanka. We will be using Acrylic Paints and Watercolours”.
Ahmed has always been inclined towards art, travelling extensively to research new techniques and explore the craft. “More recently I visited Karen Sistek in the remote Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula, USA (where the Twilight novels were based!)”. Having completed a diploma in Arts and Crafts, she has shared her talent and her knowledge, nurturing and honing her students’ craft. “I have my own private workshop, where my students regularly attend my classes. I am currently associated with 2 prestigious institutes as a teacher - Dubai Community Theatre and Art Centre and Dubai International Art Centre. I have had a solo exhibition at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation beside participating in several other joint exhibitions of artists”.
Ahmed has also planned a series of workshops to be conducted by eminent local artists as well as the visiting international artists to be held in local schools. She hopes that the experience will benefit the students who will learn new techniques and will reap numerous advantages from the experience of the visiting artists. The Plein Air paintings by the artists will be showcased at an Exhibition to be held at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery on the 20th of February at 10 am.