Mohan Tenuwara | Small Stuff

×

Expand

Mohan Tenuwara, “Sunny September,” 2023, acrylic on canvas, 20" x 20"

Opening Thursday, August 31,2023 5 - 7 pm

EXHIBITION STATEMENT:

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”

― Vincent Van Gogh

There are small things in daily life that bring us true happiness -- watching the sunrise or sunset, experiencing the smell of the crisp fall air, or eating your lunch outside in the sun.

The ability to draw happiness from the little things in life also has a lot to do with gratitude. Being grateful for the little things can result in both a broader sense of contentment and less dependence on the outcome of external circumstances. Artists pay attention to the small things as they appreciate their infinite potential.

In this latest body of work, Mohan celebrates the importance of small things. The subjects chosen have been gathered across the seasons from his daily routines.  Similarly, the titles have been kept simple and spare to reflect the essence of each such experience. As Mohan describes, “I wanted to bring a flavour of each small encounter onto a canvas to be shared with you. I attempted to transport you back in time to each such moment, inviting you to slow down and savour the small stuff -- and the relatively large impact it makes on us.”

ARTIST’S BIO: Mohan Tenuwara is a Winnipeg-based artist working primarily in acrylics. As an artist, musician and practicing architect, Mohan’s creativity has many outlets. His paintings reflect his love of architecture, and he draws parallels in his depictions of prairie sky, horizon lines, fields, and water. Capturing light and celebrating it through texture is at the forefront of his work. Mohan’s scenes of rural Manitoba reflect a stark yet beautiful reality, often warmed by an infusion of light. He sees his role as part of a storytelling tradition. He supplies a setting, sometimes adding characters, and hopes viewers will use their own experiences to complete the story.

Born and raised in the coastal town of Galle in Southern Sri Lanka, Mohan moved to Canada in 2005. Mohan lives with his wife and two sons in Winnipeg.