NOT JUST A DOODLE - EXHIBITION BY RENOWNED SRILANKAN ARTIST TILAK SAMARAWICKREMA

Posted on 8 April 2025:

Not Just a Doodle: Celebrating Tilak Samarawickrema’s Timeless Creations

Gallery Ragini is thrilled to unveil its upcoming exhibition, Not Just a Doodle. This extraordinary showcase celebrates the genius of Sri Lankan artist and designer Tilak Samarawickrema, whose work spans an impressive five decades. Curated by the accomplished cultural archivist and writer Ina Puri, the event offers viewers a glimpse into Samarawickrema’s eclectic artistic universe.

From intricate drawings and mesmerizing animations to exquisitely handwoven tapestries, this exhibition promises to be a treasure trove of visual storytelling.

Samarawickrema’s journey is a testament to boundless creativity. Trained as an architect at the University of Melbourne and inspired by the legendary Geoffrey Bawa, he has continuously pushed artistic boundaries. His creations merge the sacred and the sensual, the traditional and the contemporary, into a style that is uniquely his own –a harmonious blend of ritualistic charm, dreamlike imagery, and profound philosophical musings.

Rhythm in Lines: Samarawickrema’s Drawings and Etchings

At the core of Not Just a Doodle are Samarawickrema’s intimate drawings and etchings, shaped by his early encounters with the European avant-garde in Milan during the 1970s. Archetypal forms emerge from seemingly spontaneous lines—divine, playful, erotic, or wounded—balancing restraint and freedom.

Curator Ina Puri beautifully describes this visual language as a form of listening. She observes:

“The line breathes, stutters, dances, trembles. There’s rhythm here. And above all, there’s listening—the line is listening to itself as it moves. That’s what makes it sacred.”

A Journey Through Memory: Samarawickrema’s Creative Flow

For Tilak Samarawickrema, drawing is an unplanned and trance-like exploration of memory and myth.

“I start, and the line takes me somewhere,” he says, emphasizing the intuitive nature of his process.

His works on display include storyboards, concept sketches and drafts—offering a glimpse into his animation practice and the fusion of art, film and oral tradition.

A Legacy Beyond Borders

Tilak Samarawickrema’s art has traveled far and wide, gracing galleries and collections from Milan to Melbourne, Tokyo to Colombo. Featured in esteemed design and textile biennales, his work transcends boundaries, leaving a mark across continents. Beyond his artistic contributions, Samarawickrema is a tireless champion of Sri Lankan craft traditions. Collaborating with NGOs, schools and rural initiatives, he has empowered artisan communities by blending timeless traditions with modern design innovation—a legacy that bridges art, culture and social impact.