George Keyt
Encyclopedia
George Keyt is often considered Sri Lanka
's most distinguished modern painter
. Keyt’s dominant style is influenced by cubism
and also influenced, he has said, by his contemporary Henri Matisse
.
In addition to being a painter, Keyt is a poet. He outlined his perceptions and practice as a painter in a few notable essays on the vision of the painter. One of his most notable literary works was the translation of the Gita Govinda
into English and Sinhalese, these translations were illustrated by his own elegant line drawings (see Martin Russell collection and Amerasinghe collections).
(Ceylon) and educated at Trinity College (Kandy), an elite colonial school in the British public school
tradition. Stemming from Indo-Dutch origins, Keyt gave much time from an early age to drawing and the study of art and developed a consuming passion for books and reading.
The spell of the ancient hill capital and its Buddhist aura soon came to exercise a powerful and lasting influence and was to provide both the literary and artistic stimulus living so close to the Malwatte Vihare. He became greatly drawn towards Buddhism
and championed the cause of the Buddhist revival. He wrote profusely in both prose and verse.
The young painter also began to turn his back on the values of the westernised milieu of the class into which he was born.
His explorations in Hindu mythology
and Indian literature
led him to close links with the cultural life of India
, where he lived for long and short periods from 1939 right up to the late seventies. To the Sri Lankan Buddhist source were now added the compelling imagery of Hindu myth and legend as vital influences.
A meeting with Rabindranath Tagore
in the 1930s in Ceylon left a lasting impression.
Many exhibitions of his work have also been held in India, London
and other European and American centres. His pictures are to be found in various museums and galleries abroad, as well as in private collections in Sri Lanka and throughout the world.
His fame as a painter has obscured his significance as a poet; not so well known, therefore, is the fact that he was one of the few poets of any stature in contemporary Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
's most distinguished modern painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. Keyt’s dominant style is influenced by cubism
Cubism
Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
and also influenced, he has said, by his contemporary Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse was a French artist, known for his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter...
.
In addition to being a painter, Keyt is a poet. He outlined his perceptions and practice as a painter in a few notable essays on the vision of the painter. One of his most notable literary works was the translation of the Gita Govinda
Gita Govinda
The Gita Govinda is a work composed by the 12th-century poet, Jayadeva, who was born in Kenduli Sasan near Puri in Orissa. It describes the relationship between Krishna and the gopis of Vrindavana, and in particular one gopi named Radha...
into English and Sinhalese, these translations were illustrated by his own elegant line drawings (see Martin Russell collection and Amerasinghe collections).
Biographical information
Keyt (17 April 1901–1993) was born in Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
(Ceylon) and educated at Trinity College (Kandy), an elite colonial school in the British public school
Public School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...
tradition. Stemming from Indo-Dutch origins, Keyt gave much time from an early age to drawing and the study of art and developed a consuming passion for books and reading.
The spell of the ancient hill capital and its Buddhist aura soon came to exercise a powerful and lasting influence and was to provide both the literary and artistic stimulus living so close to the Malwatte Vihare. He became greatly drawn towards Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and championed the cause of the Buddhist revival. He wrote profusely in both prose and verse.
The young painter also began to turn his back on the values of the westernised milieu of the class into which he was born.
His explorations in Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
and Indian literature
Indian literature
Indian literature refers to the literature produced on the Indian subcontinent until 1947 and in the Republic of India thereafter. The Republic of India has 22 officially recognized languages....
led him to close links with the cultural life of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where he lived for long and short periods from 1939 right up to the late seventies. To the Sri Lankan Buddhist source were now added the compelling imagery of Hindu myth and legend as vital influences.
A meeting with Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
in the 1930s in Ceylon left a lasting impression.
Many exhibitions of his work have also been held in India, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and other European and American centres. His pictures are to be found in various museums and galleries abroad, as well as in private collections in Sri Lanka and throughout the world.
His fame as a painter has obscured his significance as a poet; not so well known, therefore, is the fact that he was one of the few poets of any stature in contemporary Sri Lanka.