Colombo '43 Group

The '43 Group was a school of modern mid 20th century painting in Sri Lanka, established in 1943. The group was essentially an association of like-minded painters who had broken away from the Ceylon Society of Arts, led by photographer and critic Lionel Wendt, including key members Harold Peiris, George Keyt, Justin Daraniyagala, Ivan Peries, Aubrey Collette, Richard Gabriel, Geoffrey Beling, George Claessen, Swanee Jayawardene and L T P Manjusri Thero. Lester James Peries became a latter associate of the group. The paintings of the group constituted a historic break in Sri Lankan and, more generally, South Asian tradition. Their principal contribution was the absorption and adaptation of the modern movement in Europe, and their application of this to their contemporary Sri Lankan experience. They also promoted Kandyan dance and other Sri Lankan dance forms.