Innovative Toronto-based digital artist Karuna has been inspired by renown art instructor A. Mark who pioneered teaching of modern art in Northern Sri Lanka, particularly Jaffna.
Karuna says Mark introduced his students to the work and styles of Sri Lankan art icons George Keyt, David Paynter, and Indian great David Jamini Roy.
Recently, Karuna’s work was on display at an exhibit in Markham City Hall in a suburb north of Toronto. The show was inaugurated by city councillor Logan Kanapathi on Thai Pongal day
“Mark told us to borrow from our surroundings and draw,” Karuna told lankareporter.com reminiscing on his days under the guidance of Mark in Jaffna.
“In fact, that is what inspired me to do a series of paintings based on the bicycle. The cycle plays important part in day-to-day life in Jaffna as a popular mode of transport”.
Karuna’s art journey took him to explore new shores in Canada. Here, he was introduced to Coral Painter and a digital tablet to draw.
By 1992 he became the first Sri Lankan Tamil artist to pioneer the digital medium.
Karuna runs a graphic design and photography company, DIGI Media Creations, in Toronto.
