Socio-political content of S.H. Sarath’s art

An unfading characteristic of senior Sri Lankan artist S.H. Sarath’s work is his sharp sensitivity to socio-political and economic realities.

This is the golden thread that has been giving coherence and continuity to his work down the decades. This was amply evident in his latest solo painting exhibition as well held at his Nugegoda residence in early April this year. S.



H. Sarath, who is a household name in Sri Lanka and parts of the world, impresses the connoisseur as having the drive to push the boundaries of art. His April exhibition bore this out substantially.

In other words, it’s not a case of ‘Art for Art’s sake’. While his art never fails to please the viewer’s aesthetic sense, there is also the insightful portrayal of the realities of our time which marks Sarath out as an artist with a strong social conscience. For example, there was a portrayal of the unfailingly topical ‘Easter Sunday bombings’ and its tragic consequences for Sri Lanka among his work.

While the principal religious figures in the event were etched with characteristic clarity and cogency, surrounding these figures were evocative sketches of the skeletal remains of the victims of war and also of the instigators of war and mayhem; politicians, VIPs and the like. Thus is the close nexus being established between war and politics. However, one should not miss out on Sarath’s artistic versatility and innovativeness.

There was rich, impactful colour where necessary and a transcendence of the narrow confines of realism and naturalisms in some of his exhibits. A combination of these elements are seen in his human figures, for instance, which testify to cubism and other modern artistic styles. However, here too we don’t have ‘Art for Art’s sake’ or purely abstract art.

Lovers, for example, are shown as projecting from their hearts objects with a resemblance to hooks. This is a striking reminder of the pain that love could bring, a universal theme. Art has been Sarath’s life and his latest exhibition bore this out very graphically.

While wishing him very many more years of fruitful artistic endeavor, we note with appreciation his longstanding commitment to the task of combining art with the inescapable realities of public life. These are the hallmarks of an unfading People’s Artist. By Lynn Ockersz.