Forging Friendship where Words cannot Reach
Friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka is everlasting, because it rests in the heart of Metta and Karuna. This is the story how it began, how it has developed, and how it will evolve…
We are so delighted to organize a solo exhibition “Zen-the Essence of Japanese Beauty” in honour of the master artist Dr. H. A. Karunaratne. The exhibition will be held in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of our friendship, as well as of “the Order of Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays” conferred upon Dr. H. A. Karunaratne on 2nd March 2022.
Dr. Karunaratne’s contribution to the promotion of our bilateral relations is truly illustrious, but by no means can be measured in the normal conceptual yardstick. His world is in the deepest sphere of our soul, where words cannot reach, but can only be perceived by the acute sense that the true artist like Dr. Karunaratne possess.
Dr. Karnaratne’s unique style of painting, which he calls “an act of meditation”, clearly manifest the soulful relevance existing between his paintings and the practice of Zen - known to be synonymous with Japanese culture and the way of
living. Artistically, the spiritual works created in his deep meditation conceive the hue of Japanese beauty, composed of three essences, namely, Wabi ( Tranquil Simplicity), Sabi ( Patina of Age), and Suki ( Subtle Elegance).
Abstract form of expression that Dr. Karunaratne established is also a powerful statement of
Zen philosophy. “The Book of Tea”, written by Okakura Tenshin, expresses the point in the following passage:
“The follower of Zen aimed at direct communion with the inner nature of things, regarding their outward accessories only as impediments to a clear perception of Truth. It was this love of the Abstract that led the Zen to prefer black and white sketches….”
Influenced by the tide and clime prevailing in Japan, Dr. Karunaratne embraced the essence of Zen in its purest form and reflected it on his canvasses.
Dr. Karunaratne’s “journey of soul”, the span of which almost coincides with the 70- year journey of our bilateral relations, also appears to reflect our inner images that continuously search for the new harmony in the world of impermanence. The idea of impermanence is ever present in Dr. Karunaratne’s works, which is the fundamental principle in our common faith of Buddhism.
A recluse author of twelfth century, Kamo no Chomei begins “Hojoki” (“An Account of a Ten- Foot- Square Hut”) in the following passage, where he compares Mujo ( impermanence) with “Foam upon the Stream” :
The flow of the river never ceases,
And the water never stays the same.
Bubbles float on the surface of pools,
Bursting, re- forming, never lingering.
They’re like the people in this world and their dwellings
A l eading Sri Lankan novelist, Mr. Ediriweera Sarachchandra, wrote a story on a Japanese elegy by the same name, “Foam upon the Stream”, which suggests the presence of insightful view of the world commonly existing in both countries.
The solo exhibition will provide a glimpse of our soulful relations, expressed in the master artist’s unceasing quest for harmony in colors. Dr. H. A. Karunaratne has enriched our long- standing friendship with his spiritual creations, which, paradoxically, will continue to connect our hearts ever permanently.