
Priya Singh
Head of Department
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Head of Department

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Provenance
Property from a private collection, UK.
Note: The work has been authenticated by the artist.
A hallmark of Senanayake's artistic practice is the recurring motif of transparent halos encircling his figures - an ethereal signature that lends his work a quiet, spiritual resonance. These luminous circles do more than ornament; they reflect his ongoing exploration with Buddhist philosophy, especially the notion of eternal cycles without beginning or end. As such, the circular form becomes a powerful symbol of continuity, rebirth, and the interconnectedness of all life.
This 1988 piece, Untitled (Tea pickers), exemplifies Senanayake's distinctive style, characterised by rhythmic compositions, stylised figuration, and a vivid chromatic palette. The scene depicts four women delicately engaged in tea plucking against a backdrop of undulating hills. Flattened spatial perspectives and softly overlapping forms blend to create a dreamlike atmosphere that draws on both modernist figuration and vernacular aesthetic traditions. In this work, Senanayake subtly weaves his contemporary visual language into a timeless cultural and spiritual context.