Manar Elbaz

DUBAI: An exhibition titled Colors of Japan, which explores Japan’s beautiful culture and was showcased in Osaka last year, is displayed in Dubai until Nov. 27.

The pieces are drawn by Sri Lankan native artist Suranga Navarathne, who has been interested in Japanese culture since he was younger. The artist mainly focuses on nature, portraying Japan’s natural elements in a Van Gogh-esque style.

He commented on the exhibition, saying that the purpose of it is to remind people that they are part of nature instead of focusing on the artificial world.

His technique includes heavy brush strokes, the use of one or two primary colors, and a subject, usually a person facing their backs to the canvas. “My paintings (feel) human-made, and there is a concept I’m trying to convey,” he shared. 

Additionally, the exhibition also features two portraits, one of which is of the renowned Japanese architect Tadao Andō. He told Arab News Japan that he was inspired by the fact that he is entirely self-taught and aspires to send a good message via the portrait, which is that “If you move forward and put effort, you can do (anything).”

The exhibition is located at Dubai’s International Studio of Art and Galleries and gets displayed from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pieces get sold for approximately ¥2,991,000 ($20,000). The artist plans to showcase the exhibition in Japan next year, mainly in Kyoto and Tokyo.