User:D.rajasegar

D.RajaSegar, known as Segar, is a professional Sri Lankan artist and sculptor. A self tutored artist born on 4th Dec 1951 in the suburb of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. He is experimenting the refractive effect of light in his abstract and figurative paintings. He loves to work in watercolor, oil and mixed media. in sculpture he works in steel. he has had one man exhibitions in Australia, England, India and Sri Lanka in addition to group exhibitions. His art adorned in news papers, documentaries and periodicals including Reader's Digest.

With an identity of his own to captivate his critics, he is the manipulator of strokes that blend with decadence. Segar's paintings on day to day life of Sri Lanka, is innovation in art with a magical essence. It was the substance of original enchantment that spellbound the viewer. Segar is a connoisseur and the conservatism which has resulted into renaissance is ample proof of the philosophy that he applies to his work. I found an abundance of quality and a sense of sensuousness removed from sexism in his semi-nudes. The ecstatic lyricism has flown from his mind and not inspired by any medium such as literature or from nature painting. He is the painter of the 'indoor' hardly emerging 'outdoor' to capture images on canvas. Rather, he depends upon figures to express the art of painting. Sri Lankan art cannot be categorized to be identified with historic periods but temple murals and Sigiriya paintings do indicate the mood and concept of artists of yore. With Segar, a new period is born where he bears witness to the new concept for young artists to rely upon. However there again Segar limits subjects indoor with absolutely nothing to do with nature. It is his own school of art and he is the master of its creation. No doubt the superlative qualities have dazzled even for the sternest critic to ecstasy. I was awed by something that never appealed to me before. Being a follower of the Italian artists who have often inspired me as a student and being someone who has never been impressed by the art of impressionists, I did find a new relationship with Segar's art. Articulate with eloquence with the power of modern dissonance, I did, more than once, found his brush straying away from impressionism towards a more formidable combination of contemporary, modern and abstract visualization. World of Art When one understands the polychromatic tangles between Monet and Pissarro, it will only help the art of Degas in literary context. Among the French Impressionists, Manet is accepted as the superlative but Renoir holds sway over all outside France. Why I make this statement is that unlike our own Segar, they painted nothing but what they saw. Sadly they were the first to break away with the Renaissance art. Paris Louvre exhibits most of them. Segar will never encounter this oddity because he paints over all 'ism'. After everything said, done and explored. Very abstract at one point, straying towards cubism next but he has all options at his finger tips and the brush never let him down. He has the capacity to blend and overlap colors and produce vibrancy. There is also one distinct feature in his figures the way he puts some expressions that boil down to terror in the eyes. They are demanding, piercing and penetrating even to the extent of creating fear in the mind of the observer. None of his paintings are autobiographical, at least not to my knowledge. His artistic work has great joy and appear at varied stages that of a restless spirit. by Gwen Herat Daily News Sri Lanka January 2009

Featured in the following books and periodicals: • Tabrobane: Oct 1987 • Explore Sri Lanka: Sep 1991 Nov 1999 and Sep 2004 • NORAD annual 1993 • Aruvi: Apr 1993 • Desathiya: Jan 1990 • Art line International: Sep 1991 • Reader's Digest: Feb 1998 Asian Edition • Walk Along, collection of poems 2001