By Shabna Cader

Pix by Dumith Wanigasekera

What was known as the home of artist Harry Peiris is today a bungalow that holds some of the best examples of Sri Lankan art. It sits within the heart of Barnes Place, a quaint and old-fashioned abode, consisting over 300 paintings and drawings that trace the development of the art scene in Sri Lanka since the 1920s.

Today, the Sapumal Foundation is an approved charity. It was set up in the year 1974. Its rooms have been converted into multiple galleries and the larger section of the display gallery is housed in Pieris’ sitting rooms; they have been left as he once used them, adorned with a handful of family photographs on tables. The studio he was known to have created art in, still contains his easel, brushes, palette and a box holding the last few tubes of paint he apparently used.

Quaint abode

Originally, in the 19th century, the foundation was a property of 15 acres. Three workmen’s cottages were laid on the property. The house of the Pieris family was situated at the top of the main road and is said to have been quite a large one.

When the Pieris family decided to move to the property, the cottage walls were knocked down and made into one large house. They were known to have been a family that owned many estates and plantations in both Kurunegala and Colombo. Although two generations of the family lived in the house, it is its last owner, Harry Pieris, who is most well-known.

As an active member of the 43 Group, he built a collection of paintings by the members of the group as well as other artists. In the year 1974, he felt the need to establish something of a more permanent nature. Thus, he formed the Sapumal Foundation. His two close friends, Dr. Christopher Raffel and Dr. Arthur Weerakoon, were its trustees. The main purpose of the foundation was to preserve the collections of artists for the benefit and advancement of art.

Both the house and garden are extensive of Pieris’s personality, which was mingled with scents of flowers, painted canvases and trees. The garden, house and paintings register the whole experience of his life. The house and paintings were cared for by a man by the name of Robert. The garden was tended to by a man named Piyadasa. Piyadasa’s wife prepared meals.

Many have described the home an interior decoration. It is filled with a delightful clutter of odd pieces of furniture, books, vases, carvings, ceramics, photographs and other memories of him and the Pieris family.

Sapumal

Pieris was born on 10 August 1904. He was the eighth child of a family of 11 children; each with different tastes and attitudes to life. He was the only one who liked art as much as to pursue it throughout his life. He enrolled at the Mudaliyar A.C.G.S. Amerasekere’s Atelier School of Art but later suggested to his parents that he be sent abroad for further studies. Therefore, in the year 1923, at the age of 19, he joined the Royal Academy of London. The principal of the college at the time was Sir William Rothenstein. He was the first to recognize Pieris’s talent for portraiture and encouraged him. In the year 1927, he obtained a diploma from the college.

He then returned to Ceylon for a brief period of three years before departing once again to Paris on Sir Rothenstein’s advice. He spent six years in the city, which was at the time a hub of artistic activity. Pieris was particularly close to Matisse and his family. He finally returned to Ceylon in 1935, at the age of 34.

Once on Ceylonese soil, he looked after his family’s agricultural and other properties. He also read widely; 90% of his book collection on various subjects is housed in the reading room at the foundation. He was known to have been a man of simple elegance with an eye for beauty. His garden was well-kept and he was a fairly good gardener, too. His understanding of art was further enhanced by a visit to the United States of America in the year 1953, and China in the year 1957.

From a young age, Pieris was nicknamed ‘Sapumal’ by his siblings. Sapumal is a flower that is said to fully open. There was also a prince by the very name in history who was known to have been an unsmiling man. Both notions imply that he was not much given to smiling. The foundation was simply named after his nickname.

Foundation of art

As not just an artist, but also a teacher of art, Pieris encouraged people to follow their individuality and own inclinations. Within his chosen limitations, he strove to appreciate new aesthetic urges even if and when he did not understand its reasons. The many portraits he did during his life can be viewed at the Sapumal Foundation.

The core of the collection consists of works by Harry Pieris, Richard Gabriel, Ivan Peries, Justin Daraniyagala, George Keyt, L.T.P. Manjusri, Geoffery Beling, George Claessen and Aubrey Collette. These artists were the original members of the 43 Group and laid the foundation of modern art in Sri Lanka.  Other Sri Lankan artists who also have their works on display in the gallery include Ranil Deraniyagala, Tilak Samarawickreme, Marie Alles Fernando, Swanee Jayawardena, Sushila Fernando, Sevali Illangasinghe, Noeline Fernando, Badugodahewa and Nadine David.

Pieris passed away in the year 1988 and chairmanship was taken over by L.S.D. Pieris. He made the foundation more organized by labelling the paintings and taking inventories. He also oversaw the publication of ‘The Sapumal Foundation Collection – A Select Catalogue’. Over the years, the foundation has sponsored and hosted multiple exhibitions as well as provided space for book readings, book club meetings and art classes. The last exhibition held was by Yasmin Buckman.

Because it is an old building, there is a lot of repair work and renovation that are carried out on a daily basis. It is possibly one of the oldest abodes in the area, stretching across 16,000 square feet.

Sapumal Foundation is located at 32/4 Barnes Place, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.

Tel: 011 2695731

Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m

The excellence of 43 Group

In the year 1943, an idea to form a group of art lovers was conceived. The inaugural meeting was held at No. 18, Guildford Crescent on 29 August of the same year at the home of Lionel Wendt. Extracts from the minutes of the meeting mention that “intention of the Group is that contributing artists will select their own work before submission and the usual practice will be to exhibit all works submitted.”  Inside the entrance to the Sapumal Foundation is a drawing by Collette that shows the original core group: Lionel Wendt, Geoff Beling, Harry Pieris, Richard Gabriel, Ivan Peries, George Keyt, George Claessen, Aubrey Collette, Justin Daraniyagala and L T P Manjusri Thero. Of these ten artists, only Richard Gabriel is alive today, living in Melbourne.

The first exhibition of the 43 Group was held in an old, corrugated iron warehouse at No. 525, Darley Road, Maradana in November of the same year. The Group held 16 local exhibitions; the last one being in February 1967.