Ven. Dr. Mapalagama Wipulasara Thera (1925 - 2000)
Ven. Dr. Mapalagama Wipulasara Thera, a world-renowned Sculptor and Painter, was born in Sri Lanka on 3rd of March 1925. He entered the Ordain at the age of 15 in Parama Dhamma Chetiya Pirivena, the foundation of modern monastic education. He was keen on painting and aesthetics studies. To widen his knowledge and acquaintance with international Buddhist art, he had been traveling to India, Pakistan, Nepal, Japan, China, Thailand, Burma etc. He was even invited by His Holiness the Pope to visit the Vatican. He started to gain an international reputation in the 1950's. In 1960, he became the director of the institution.
Ven. Wipulasara distinguished artworks are currently exhibited worldwide including Sri Lanka, India, Japan, China, New York, Australia, and Germany. He has been awarded many honors, including the Kalasoori, the most prestigious art award, from the Sri Lanka Government and the Twentieth Century Award for Achievement, presented by International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, UK, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the cultural propagation.
Ven. Wipulasara created superb artworks in various traditional art forms including Gok-kola decor art, Kolam, Puppetry, and Kohombakankariya. He is a versatile artist with a very refined aesthetic sense and unique creative ability in various fields, especially in the field of painting and sculpture. His Buddha statues sculptures at Ananda College in Colombo, House of the president of Sri Lanka and many Buddhist temples are world renowned. There is no doubt that when considering his unique contribution to different fields of art that he is the most outstanding national artist of the 20th century who has been held in the highest esteem and appreciation by the international public and art connoisseurs.
Ven. Wipulasara held several important positions including Chief President of the Sri Lanka Buddhist Congress, High Priest, and adviser with over 18 National and International Organizations. In 1972, he involved in designing National emblem of Sri Lanka. He has dedicated his life to make a profound contribution to the development of arts and Buddhism in Sri Lanka.