Dhananjaya Perera ’10 with Amy Hardison Tully, Teresa Ann Carter King Dean of the College of Fine Arts.
School of Art’s Dhananjaya Perera ’10 was chosen to create a unique artwork that takes center stage in J.M. Moudy North, paying homage to TCU’s beloved Horned Frog mascot.
The artwork is part of a larger series comprising of 19 hyper-realistic pointillism pieces.
“The technique I utilized for the piece is stippling with white ink,” explains Perera. “The artwork titled ‘140 Hours,’ is part of a larger series comprising of 19 hyper-realistic pointillism pieces that originated during the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
As the pandemic shifted international and societal dynamics, Perera’s creative style also underwent a transformation, transitioning from painting to drawing.
“What is especially unique about this milestone piece is that I challenged myself to work inversely with white ink on a black surface as opposed to the traditional black ink on a white surface, Perera said. “This experience definitely destroyed some of my brain cells and photoreceptors,” he chuckled.
The drawing artfully integrates hidden images and text, paying homage to both the College of Fine Arts and TCU. Perera encourages viewers to take their time to uncover the carefully tucked clues within his piece.
Q&A with Perera
What do you hope viewers take away from your artwork?
Perera: Patience. In this digital age with endless possibilities in artificial intelligence, my artwork, and to a greater extent, the titles, allude to the art of the process. I hope viewers will appreciate the creativity, discipline and patience required to create this piece. While my series initially focused on showcasing outdoor wilderness during the pandemic, the core message has shifted towards the importance of the human touch in art – the art of patience.
What advice would you give to students pursuing a career in the fine arts?
Perera: Do not be complacent. The need to constantly work, refine, revise and finesse an artist’s creative style and literacy is dependent on two components: time and passion. Utilizing time efficiently and productively is essential to producing voluminous bodies of works. Cultivating your passion involves building your confidence and articulating clear reasons for what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. This is as vital as studying the works of other practitioners and what ultimately distinguishes the professionals from the hobbyists.