Sri Lankan artist Senaka Senanayake is drawing attention to diminishing rainforests through his exhibition

The Colombo-based artist is showing over 20 of his recent works at an exhibition at Delhi’s Saffronart. “When I paint positive images of the forest, people want to see the real thing. When they are told that most of it is gone, they want to do something about it. Nobody really wants to look at dead trees and burnt forests,” says Senanayake, who was first apprised of the fast-disappearing rainforests by a cousin about 15 years ago during a holiday at a tea garden.

Back home, he started researching the issue, understanding the reasons, including going back to the colonial era. “After Independence, many of the forest lands adjoining the plantations were given to local cultivators who did not understand the importance of preserving the forests.They felled the trees and destroyed the remaining rainforest cover. All this has led to our present situation,” says Senanayake.

Over the years, his works have travelled the world over — if a 1965 work hangs at The White House, another is at the UN conference hall.

The exhibition is at Saffronart, The Claridges, from January 12 to 24