Finding freedom in her canvas of colour
Opening your mind to colour can be a revitalising and even healing experience. For Peshali Saranya Fernando, the direction of change was a magical shift, which she understood through splashes of colour and vibrancy.
This week, the Sky Gallery will be showcasing Peshali’s first solo exhibition in Sri Lanka, “Waves of Transformation: Peshali’s Change Journey” from November 10 -12.
Peshali was inspired to exhibit her work by Jomo Uduman, Director and owner of the gallery and a dear friend. Peshali’s artwork includes modern abstracts with a distinctly impressionist style, oils, and acrylic/mixed media.
Peshali had first exhibited when a student at the Cora Abraham Art School in group exhibitions in the late 1970s to early 1980s. She went onto have two solo exhibitions in 2005 & 2006, when she lived in Singapore. She has lived in and experienced many countries – Zambia, Australia, USA, Sweden, Singapore, New Zealand, and China and some of her paintings were also done in these different countries. She returned to Sri Lanka in 2017 after almost 34 years.
Art took a back seat as she pursued her career in psychology and raised her two children. After almost 10 years when she picked up her palette again in the 1990s she found that painting was a creative outlet which gave her a sense of freedom – freedom from being stressed, being caught up in things she didn’t need to and to express and regulate her emotions positively.
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“Art lets a person explore, dream and be free,” says Peshali. “Art creates a sense of ‘flow’ which is when you are completely absorbed in your artwork. By achieving a sense of ‘flow’, you can feel enjoyment, energy, and focused involvement. When you achieve a state of “flow” you can also avoid ruminating (over thinking) because you become so focused on what you are creating.”
A psychologist by profession with over 25 years of experience, she has done extensive work to empower women, among them those who had faced horrific and challenging situations. She believes that she has found her true calling in her journey to integrate art as a therapeutic medium.
Peshali says “It does not matter if you have not picked up a stick of charcoal or a paint brush since you left pre-school or high school or never had the opportunity to explore art – now is the time to do so. I hope this exhibition will create the vibe to get creative and improve your mental well-being as well.”
She is currently the Group Consultant Psychologist for Brandix, one of the largest apparel companies in Sri Lanka which employs over 40,000 employees, the majority of whom are women.
“Waves of Transformation: Peshali’s Change Journey” will be up at Sky Gallery of the Fareed Uduman Art Forum, 65/9 Kirula Road Colombo 5, from November 10-12, from 10a.m. to 5p.m. daily.