Fareed Uduman (1917-1985) was an extraordinary but unknown artist. He never had any type of formal art training and was absolutely a self-taught artist. During his lifetime he painted dozens of startlingly original paintings that were untitled and unsigned. Fareed was an enigma and sometimes an embarrassment to most of his family and friends. Although born a Muslim he called himself a humanist, an
atheist, a communist and a rationalist. Essentially an urbanite, he rarely ventured out. Most of his paintings thus seem to be manifestations of experiences and images captured in and around the city. He was a voracious reader of Science, Politics, Philosophy, Religion, Medicine, Literature and Art. The knowledge he accumulated during his lifetime was incredible. Most of his early works have sadly perished. But after his death, his son Jomo managed to retrieve and preserve 32 paintings and also located another 10 that hung overseas. Sky Gallery and Fareed Uduman ArtForum for Aspiring Artists is his dream to showcase his father's entire collection of Paintings, Cartoons and Poems as a permanent exhibition for the present and future generations of art lovers to savor. The ArtForum will also assist aspiring or struggling artists to display their paintings. It is also hoped to conduct art classes for children and host workshops for the benefit of enhancing knowledge and technique, targeting all artists in Sri Lanka. Sky Gallery is spectacularly nestled amongst the tree tops of Kirula Road and will open soon.
