02/11/2025
A Symphony of Art and Nature at Hiyare: A Workshop with Mr. Gamini Rathnaweera
"Art is the language through which nature speaks to the human heart."
Amid the lush greenery and tranquil waters of the Wildlife Conservation Society – Galle Research Station at Hiyare, a unique harmony of science and art unfolded. An art workshop on drawing nature and wildlife was conducted under the guidance of the renowned artist Mr. Gamini Rathnaweera, whose work has long captured the essence of Sri Lanka’s living landscapes.
Gathered beneath the forest canopy were young nature lovers, naturalists, and budding environmental scientists, all united by their passion for the living world. The environment itself became both classroom and muse — the gentle chorus of birds, the shimmer of leaves in filtered sunlight, and the delicate interplay of water and sky formed a living canvas that surrounded the participants.
Mr. Rathnaweera’s session transcended traditional art instruction; it was a lesson in scientific observation and artistic interpretation. With graceful strokes and thoughtful explanations, he demonstrated how to capture ornithological views with scientific accuracy while preserving the emotion and vitality of the scene. Participants learned to balance aesthetic sensibility with ecological precision — portraying not only the beauty of birds but also their behavior, habitat, and subtle environmental context.
“To observe is to understand; to draw is to remember.”
— A sentiment that resonated deeply as each sketch transformed observation into knowledge.
The Hiyare reservoir and its surrounding forest reserve provided a perfect setting — a sanctuary where art, ecology, and inspiration coexist. The murmuring calls of barbets, the gliding silhouettes of cormorants, and the fleeting colors of endemic birds enriched the creative process, reminding all present of the intricate web of life they sought to portray.
This workshop not only nurtured artistic skill but also cultivated scientific awareness and environmental empathy. By blending art with conservation, it highlighted how visual expression can become a bridge between emotion and evidence, beauty and biodiversity.
As the day drew to a close, each participant carried home not just sketches, but a renewed sense of wonder — a recognition that every brushstroke can be a form of conservation, every drawing a quiet act of protecting what we love.
"When science meets art, awareness becomes awe, and observation becomes devotion."
