Segar

D. Raja Segar (born December 4, 1951)

Personal life Segar was born to Hindu parents in Colombo Sri Lanka. His parents became Christians of catholic denomination after 3 years of their marriage, for the simple reason of getting Christian Schools for their Children. This was rather a common practice in Sri Lanka. Segar had to go to Sunday school in Anthony's Church Kollupitiya, in addition to going to church every Sundays. Until he was 13 he never missed a Sunday mass as he was told by the church that he would go to hell if he stop going to church and heaven is only possible only if he believes Jesus Christ as his only god. Segar noticed that hardly anyone read the Bible in his environment, may be reading the Bible was restricted among Catholics. Curious Segar started to read the Bible secretly. He read it again and he stopped going to Church ever since. When the congregation asked him he answered; It takes more than 8 minutes for the sun light to reach earth. Our next sun (star) is more than 4 light years away. Pl show me where the heaven is. Further, I am not interested in going to place where you can not communicate with your loved ones. However Segar was fascinated by the stories in both the religions Hinduism and Christianity. Religions became great art objects for his paintings. Segar's paintings on Gods were greatly admired and several of his paintings on Hindu god Ganesha adorned the shrine rooms of posh Hindus in several countries.

He lives in a house architectured by Minnette De Silva. This house conceived from Segar's imagination when he was 12 years old.

Exhibitions Major International Exhibitions and Events

1988 Chetana Gallery Bombay - India 1990 Mosman Gallery, Sydney, Australia 1991 Gallery 202 London W11 - England 1992 The Fiveway Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia 1994 Arteast Gallery. Vancouver BE Canada 2002 Art Exquisite Raffles hotel - Singapore 2002 SAARC Artist meet - New Delhi, India 2003 Jamaat Art Gallery – Mumbai, India 2004 Women on top 'Jamaat Art Gallery 2006 Lakshana Art Gallery, Chennai, India 2008 Delhi Diplomatic Art Circle, Delhi, India 2009 [M.F.Husain] Art Gallery, Delhi, India. 2010 Alankritha Art Gallery, Hyderabad, India. 2012 Bansiyog - Raasrang World Flute and art Festival 2012 2013 Gallery of Gnana Art, ION Orchard, Singapore 2014 Exhibition: The Global Icon, Singapore. 2017 Representing Sri Lanka in Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2017 - International Leaders Summit Abu Dhabi. 2017 Representing Sri Lanka in 14th GIAF 2017 Gongju International Art Festival, Korea

One man exhibitions in Sri Lanka

Lionel Wendt Art Gallery Colombo 1987 1988 1993 1996 1997 1999 2000 British Council Colombo 1985 Hotel Lanka Oberoi Colombo 1986 Ramada Renaissance Colombo 1989 1991 SAARC Exhibition of South Asian Paintings, National Art Gallery, Sri Lanka 1991 Alliance Francaise 1984 1985 1991 1993 1995 2009 National Art Gallery Colombo1992 Gallery 706 Colombo 1994 Segar Gallery web site inauguration 1998 Sculptors and Painters presented by George Keyt Foundation, Colombo 2001 Bishops College Auditorium, Colombo 2002 - United States Sri Lankan Painters presented by George Keyt Foundation, Colombo 2003 Felix Gallery, Colombo, 2004 Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel Gallery, 2009 Horton Gardens Gallery, Colombo, 2011 Exhibition and Autobiography Book release, Cinnamon Lakeside hotel, Colombo, (21 July 2013) May 2015 – The Beatles paintings accompanied by Royston Ellis poems, Colombo

Geometry and Physics in Segar's work

His early works dominated by triangles squares and cubes and avoided curves much as possible refer the Big Ben painting on Bonjour French magazine. Traveling of light in different density and its refraction influenced him a lot. He did not hesitate to apply this in many of large canvases which resulted in figurative cubism and refractive effect in his paintings.

References on Raja Segar's art

Tabrobane: Oct 1987, Sri Lanka George Keyt Foundation publication on SAARC artists 1991, Sri Lanka Explore Sri Lanka: Sep 1991 Nov 1999 and Sept 2004 NORAD annual 1993 Aruvi: Apr 1993 Desathiya: Jan 1990 Art line International: Sept 1991 Aspects of culture in Sri Lanka by LeRoy Robinson 1992 Reader's Digest: Feb 1998 Asian Edition Walk Along, collection of poems 2001 Commemorative publication on art- 50th independence of Sri Lanka Autobiography with paintings July 2013, Coffee table book Online edition of Daily News - Lakehouse Newspapers Online edition of Daily News - Features

Gallery