- H. A. Karunaratne - Chronology of Events -
*1929*
Born in Bandaragama, Western Province, Sri Lanka to Hettiarachchige Pabilis Preera and Bamunusinghage Subalis.
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*1934*
Completed primary education at Thakshila Maha Vidyalaya in Horana, Sri Lanka.
*1952-1958*
Enrolled and successfully completed the Diploma in Fine Arts majoring in Drawing and Painting at Heywood College of Fine Arts in Sri Lanka, achieving First Class honors.
*1955*
Participated in the International Buddhist Art Exhibition at the National Art Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Received awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for best artwork at the exhibition. Also received the Society Award from the Ceylon Society of Arts, Sri Lanka.
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*1956*
Held first solo show at United States Information Centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Received the Society Award for the 2nd Best Painting of the Year at the Ceylon Society of Arts exhibition held at the National Art Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Also held a solo exhibition at the Colombo Art Gallery.
*1957*
Received a First Division Certificate in the Advanced Course in Drawing and Painting, mentored by Mr. J. A. D Perera, Stanley Abeysinghe, and David Painter. Awarded the first prize at the Ceylon Society of Art competition for three consecutive years, in 1957, 1958, and 1959. Participated in the 1st Young Asian Artists Exhibition at Shibuya Tokyo Department Store, Tokyo, Japan.
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*1958*
Received an award for the 2nd Best Painting of the Year from the Ceylon Society of Arts Exhibition in Sri Lanka.
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*1959-1961*
Received a Japanese Government Scholarship for Foreign Research to study at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Also awarded the research certificate of the University of Tokyo, Japan for Oil Painting and Graphic Arts. Received a one-year traveling scholarship from the Asian Friendship Society in Tokyo. Studied under the guidance of Prof. Takeshi Hayashi and Prof. Kazu Wakita.
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*1959*
Held an Exhibition of Paintings at Fuji Denko Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.
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*1960*
Artwork selected by the Metropolitan Art Gallery in Tokyo.
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*1961*
Participated in the Prints Exhibition at Metropolitan Gallery, Tokyo, Japan.
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*1962*
Held a solo exhibition of paintings and lithographs at the Lionel Wendt Hall, organized by the Ceylon Japan Society. The exhibition was inaugurated by Honorable Maithripala Senanayake, Minister of Industries, Home, and Cultural Affairs, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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*1963-1964*
Completed a mural at the new terminal of the Airport in Katunayaka, Sri Lanka. The mural was opened to the public in July 1968.
*1965-1966*
Received a Fulbright Award to attend Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, USA, majoring in graphic art.
*1966*
Returned to Sri Lanka from the USA. Exhibited three prints at the 5th Tokyo International Print Biennale Exhibition.
*1969*
Participated in the 10th Sao Paulo Biennale in Brazil.
*1970*
Held a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*1973*
Participated in the "World Print Competition 73" at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA. Donated prints to the university.
*1974*
Exhibited in "Asia Today" in Milan.
*1975-1989*
Joined the University of Kelaniya as a lecturer at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*1980*
Participated in the Contemporary Asian Art Show at Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan. Painting titled "Holy Moon" was acquired by the museum.
*1981*
Held a solo exhibition in Melbourne, Australia. Unfortunately, 14 paintings were stolen after the exhibition. Also participated in the South Asia Festival of Culture at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, India. Invited to the Asian Art Biennale in Bangladesh and the exhibition of Sri Lanka Contemporary Paintings at the Commonwealth Institute in London, UK. Additionally, took part in the exhibition of Contemporary Paintings at the German Cultural Center Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Held a solo exhibition of paintings at the Lionel Wendt Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*1982*
Held a solo exhibition at the United States Information Center and the Lionel Wendt Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The exhibition at the Lionel Wendt Gallery was attended by His Excellency Kazuo Chiba, the Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka.
*1984*
Held a solo exhibition at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*1985*
Participated in the 2nd Asian Art Show at the Fukuoka Art Museum in Japan. One of the paintings, titled "New Moon," was acquired by the Fukuoka Asia Art Museum Foundation. Also held a solo exhibition at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*1986*
Held a solo exhibition at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Also participated in the 3rd Asian Art Biennale in Bangladesh.
*1987*
Received the "Kalapathi" Award from the Ceylon Society of Arts at its Centenary celebrations. Additionally, held a solo exhibition at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*1988*
Participated in the exhibition at the National Art Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The exhibition was attended by His Excellency Yasuya Hamamoto, the Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka. Also participated in the Centenary celebration’s exhibition organized by the Ceylon Society of Arts in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*1989*
Participated in the 3rd Asian Art Show at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan. The painting titled "Rhythm" was acquired by the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Foundation. Also participated in a printmaking workshop at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum. Held a solo exhibition at the Gakuyusha Gallery in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Left the Institute of Aesthetic Studies to focus on artmaking full-time. Took part in the 5th International Biennial Exhibition of Prints in Tokyo.
*1990*
Held an exhibition at the Lionel Wendt Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka, organized by The George Keyt Foundation. Also participated in an exhibition at the National Art Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The exhibition was attended by His Excellency Isamu Nitta, the Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka.
*1992*
Held a solo exhibition titled "Roots of Art" at the Deutsche Bank G.M.-Bernhard A. Steinruecke residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*1993*
Participated in an exhibition at Deutsche Bank in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*1994*
Was honored with the national award "Kala Suri" by the then President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency D. B. Wijetunge.
*1996*
Was honored with the national award "Vishwa Prasadini" by the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Her Excellency Srimavo Bandaranaike.
*1997*
Participated in the exhibition titled "The Art of Sensibility" at The Heritage Art Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*1998*
Participated in the Asia Print Adventure 1998 at the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art in Hokkaido, Japan. Received the Special Bunka Award from the Japan Sri Lanka Friendship Cultural Fund during the Golden Jubilee of Sri Lanka's independence.
*2000*
Held a solo exhibition titled "Soul Searching" at The Lanka Oberoi and Deutsche Bank.
*2003*
Held a solo exhibition of art and sculptures at the Mahaweli Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*2004*
Participated in the SAARC Artist's Exhibition at Alhamra, Lahore, Pakistan. Held a solo exhibition titled "Probing the Soul-III" at Thambapani Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*2005*
Received Special Recognition for Fostering Art presented by Former President Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.
*2006*
Received the Solias Mendis National Award presented by the Solias Mendis Trust, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Lake House, Sri Lanka.
*2008*
Received an Award for the expression of independence from the Mona Bismark Foundation, Paris. Participated in the World Open Art Festival in Korea.
*2010*
Received the Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Honoris Causa) from the University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Sri Lanka. Held an Art Exhibition organized by the Faculty of Visual Arts of the University, "Retrospective Exhibition" at the J.D.A. Perera Art Gallery, Sri Lanka.
*2011*
Participated in the Art Exhibition organized by the Faculty of Visual Arts of the University, "Beyond the Boundary 2010" at the J.D.A. Perera Art Gallery, Sri Lanka. Held an exhibition of art and sculptures at the Lionel Wendt Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*2012*
Recognized as "Patishothagami Chithra Shilpiya" by Ravaya Newspaper celebrating its 25th anniversary.
*2016*
Received the "Jathika Kala Prasadini Deshanethru" Award from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka.
*2017*
Recognized for painting excellence by Sri Lankan Airlines through the "Speculo Award."
*2018*
Received the "Drushya Kala Abhimani" Award presented by the Sri Lanka Art Council, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka.
*2019*
The President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, conferred the national honor "Kala Keerthi" to Karunaratne. Held a book launch at BMICH followed by an art exhibition, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
*2022*
His Excellency MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, conferred "The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays" from Japan. Participated in the "Zen" Art Exhibition organized by the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka - the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. The exhibition was attended by His Excellency Mizukoshi Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka. Also received the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress award "Vishwabhushana" Honors, Sri Lanka.
*2024*
H. A. Karunaratne's artwork was prominently showcased in the prestigious "Kala South Asia" exhibition hosted by the Saskia Fernando Gallery, which featured leading contemporary artists.