LAKI SENANAYAKE

Laki Senanayake (b. 1937, Dambulla; d. 2021, Diyabubula),  was known for his unconventional approach to life and art.  A sculptor, painter, landscape designer, and inventor, Senanayake exhibited a diverse practice that was informed by his engagement with Sri Lanka’s tropical diversity. Working across a wide array of media, the artists oeuvre consisted of botanical drawings, murals, watercolours, acrylics, digital art, silkscreen printing, and sculptures in brass and aluminium. Senanayake's work was characterised by expressive simplicity in his strokes and mark-making, often imbued with an animated quality.

Although he had some formal training, Senanayake was largely self-taught, having refined his skills and artistic sensibility through various encounters with fellow artists and architects. He briefly attended the Melbourne Art School, where he met the teacher Cora Abraham and the artist Richard Gabriel. His interactions with members of the 43 Group also provided him with a foundational technical grounding. Additionally, he worked as a draughtsman for architects Bilimoria and de Silva (1958), as well as Edwards Reid and Begg (1958). Senanayake collaborated with architects such as Geoffrey Bawa, Ulrik Plesner, and Valentine Gunasekera, as well as landscape designer Bevis Bawa and fabric designers Ena de Silva and Barbara Sansoni.

Senanayake’s work has been exhibited in recent years at Colomboscope, Colombo (2024), MMCA, Colombo (2022, 2019), and the Dhaka Art Summit, Dhaka (2018). His work was also featured at the Ceylon Pavilion during the 1970 World Expo in Osaka, Japan.