Cavaliere (OMRI) Tilake Abeysinghe (Sinhala: කැවාලියර් තිලක අබේසිංහ; Tamil: காவலியர் திலகே அபேசிங்க; 28 March 1929 – 24 September 2022), better known as Tilake, was an internationally reputed Sri Lankanpainter and sculptor. Using traditional media such as oil on canvas and water colours, and sculpting in bronze, cement, clay and plaster-of-paris, Tilake fused oriental ethos with western sensuality in his art pieces.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Tilake created abstract, semi-abstract and feminine form inspired paintings and sculptures.[7]
Tilake Abeysinghe passed away at age 93 in his home in Toronto, Canada.[8]
Early life
Tilake, was born in Hakmana, British Ceylon as Gunatilake Samaratunga Abeysinghe. Tilake was the nickname his wife Padma fondly called him and the name he would eventually use throughout his life. Tilake lost his mother during the birth of her second child when he was 2 years old. When Tilake was 10 years old, his father, a village school principal, was poisoned, leaving him an orphan. Tilake's grandmother raised him and paid for his education at Rahula College in Matara before he attended St. Sylvester's College in Kandy for his advanced studies.[1][5]
Upon graduating with distinction in 1961, Tilake exhibited at the annual art exhibition in Milan in 1962 before returning home to establish himself as a major player in the Sri Lankan art scene.[1][5] Tilake would eventually return to Milan to establish his own Atelier in 1980.[2]
The inauguration of Tilake’s 20 foot sculpture at the Colombo Central Bank.
Tilake's last six art exhibitions were held exclusively in Canada beginning in Labrador City, Newfoundland in 2005. Organized by Labrador Art and Culture Center, the event received national coverage by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) where Tilake was presented with a gold medal by the mayor of Labrador city in appreciation.[1][7] Tilake later held five one-man exhibitions in Toronto, Ontario from which all proceeds of art sales were donated to Toronto Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple, Brampton Buddhist Temple and various fundraising efforts for Sri Lanka.[4][12][13][14][9]
Personal life
Tilake was married to his wife Padma until her death in 2019. In 2003, Tilake suffered a right-sided paralytic stroke. Determined to continue his passion for art, Tilake taught himself to write, paint, and sculpt with his left hand.
Tilake lived with his daughter in Toronto until he died on September 24, 2022.[8]
