Sculpture is a distinct branch of visual art. It requires not only a disciplined mind, but also an adequate amount of craftsmanship. Born in Colombo, Pathmal Yahampath is one of the few established sculptors in the country.
A customary trait for many artists, Pathmal too was fascinated with art since childhood. Speaking candidly, he says “Actually, my brother is very good at drawing, and frankly I still think he’s a better artist than me. So I used to watch him and draw alongside him. However, I ended up pursuing this as a career and my brother went in the management line”
There wasn’t a particular moment of dawning for him, he knew that this was his chosen path. He had been engaging in art for so long, it had already become a part of his identity. “In school, I was focused on art obviously, and did Art for A/Ls. As a student, I went to exhibitions and understood that I can make it a career. It was never about the money, I wanted to do it for me” he explains. Pathmal clarifies why he decided to focus on becoming a sculptor. “I took to sculpture towards the latter stage of my degree. For my final examination, I wanted to do something really different. The work I presented was a sculpture made out of broken furniture. This furniture was broken by students during strikes.” Pathmal is a graduate in visuals, arts and design from the University of Kelaniya.
However, unlike most of us living in a third world, he had a supportive background that empowered him to become what he is today. He states in a matter of fact manner, “My parents never forced my siblings or me to do anything in particular or to do what they wanted. We were all given an education and the freedom to choose what we wished to do”
For several years, Pathmal has also been functioning as an art teacher at a local school. He teaches Art to both O/L and A/L students. “I’ve noticed that students today don’t think. They are not at all familiar with contemplation. As kids, we used to read a lot and be present. The kids nowadays are interested… but they don’t really take to experiencing art. They just check what is on the internet. This affects the development of creativity and your thought process” he says thoughtfully.
Possessing an interesting outlook on art, he ponders on how to define it. “This is a tough question, and you might think this is a strange answer. But… art lies in the eye of the beholder. I can’t define it because what is art for me might not be art for you. For example, when you go to the Sunday pola and see drawings on display, can I tell you that is not art? What a two year old draws… is it not art?” he says intelligently.
Complementing his answer with his view on the relationship an artist must have with his work, he continues, “Unfortunately today people take to art wondering how much they can make. We have to have original thinking and do our job honestly and not be entirely motivated by money. Then you can perform exceptional work. I mean before you start creating something you don’t first price mark it. You let yourself fashion the work, transition with it and then much later, when it is complete would you decide on a price.”
Interms of medium, Pathmal primarily works with copper and iron. He has produced over a hundred sculptures. After careful consideration, he admits, “One of my favourite works is the ‘owl’. The owl – the bird that is has a different mood and its changing expressions really fascinate me”. He confesses that owl sculptures are what he creates for his own pleasure.
Pathmal’s perception of the world is an important tool for his creativity. “My inspiration is drawn from what I feel and what I experience. Therefore, my work takes different forms to the original composition I had in mind” he says. “Once when I was returning from the Bellanwila Temple, I saw a person taking selfies of himself with his girlfriend. We take pictures and upload it on Facebook. Then we keep checking to see who has liked it. It is like we are in love with Facebook and not the person”. This was apparently the musings behind the sculptor ‘Selfie’.
“Another one of my sculptures ‘Virtual Reality’ is a reflection of the evolution of technology. We used to be sensitive to our surroundings. But after the invention of virtual reality we have lost complete awareness. Now we are only concerned about what we want to know, and virtual reality offers us just that”.
Maintaining a relaxed approach to work, Pathmal describes his creative process in detail. “When I get an idea or thought, I first sketch it. Then I construct it piece by piece. During the whole construction, I extract or add to it. Sometimes I start several works at the same time. What I learn from constructing one, I would incorporate to the other or vice versa. Sometimes I would stop work on the initial creation and focus on the latest one, and thereafter return to the first sculpture with new thoughts”. Choosing to really enjoy the countless hours he spends developing and assembling separate materials, he adds, “I don’t stress myself to work. I don’t see the point of making art stressed. Art should relax you”.
Despite his own observation of human interaction, Pathmal has a more receptive view on life. “We are constantly learning what life is. I don’t waste time searching for answers, because you go looking for answers and then you die. You have forgotten to live. We are humans and living your life means you are being human.”
Referring to the challenges he faces in this fast-paced world, he answers, “Time is a challenge. Time management is a challenge. Sometimes I feel there isn’t enough time to do what we want to do”. There is a lot of truth in that statement. However, another obstacle Pathmal notes is that in Sri Lanka, art itself is rarely appreciated as a separate entity, “A lot of people buy work because it matches their furniture or to fill a gap on the wall. The work isn’t bought for the work itself.
According to Pathmal, the government can do quite a bit to improve the local art scene. He honestly expresses, “Whatever happens is always limited to the city or at least the main part of Colombo. Many people have financial issues that distract them from art. I mean that’s normal. You are not going to spend money on buying a movie ticket, when you don’t have money for food. The people who can enjoy art are those with money. Even in this day and age, the murals in Sigiriya and the illustrations found in temples is what the common man knows as art. Therefore, there’s no development of contemporary art in the country”
He elaborates persuasively, “In my opinion, the education system needs to develop. It should be informative about the path the students can take. Every school should have a good working studio. The government should also make and preserve a contemporary art museum. Then people from all walks of life can view it. There should be art exhibited outside Colombo as well. I don’t see how this could not be beneficial to Sri Lanka, it would be a great attraction for tourists”
In the foreseeable future, Pathmal plans on enhancing his livelihood through much needed renovation. “I want to further revamp my living space and include a gallery in it” he discloses. Nevertheless, what he deeply yearns for is to someday leave the city, immerse himself completely in nature and resume making sculptures that evoke viewers to question the evolution of existence.