William James Geoffrey Beling (22 September 1907 - 29 March 1992) was a Sri Lankan artist, educator and one of the founding members of the Colombo '43 Group.[1]
William James Geoffrey Beling was born in Gampola on 22 September 1922, the first son of William Wright Beling II, a Ceylonese watercolorist, and Eleanor Frances Morgan Swan, a music teacher.[2]
In 1926 he went to India to study to study architecture and art at Bombay's Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art.[3] In 1928, due to the untimely death of his father, Beling gave up his studies and returned home. He then opened a private art school in Havelock Town and started exhibiting his paintings at the Art Club shows arranged by Charles Freegrove Winzer, Chief Inspector of Art. In 1930 at the Ferguson Hall, Union Place, the photographer Lionel Wendt organised Beling and fellow artist George Keyt's first exhibition. Critics considered the art ‘manifestly ridiculous and degrading’, however Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet, wrote in the Times of Ceylon that "true artists are rare in Ceylon. There are two exceptions".[4] The exhibition also included works by Winzer, to whom Keyt and Beling were pupils.[5][6]
Beling painted mainly landscapes, still-lifes and portraits. According to Albert Dharmasiri, "Beling was fascinated by the pictorial innovation of Cubism developed by Braque and Picasso." with his paintings from the early 1930s bearing "a striking similarity to those of Keyt in the use of pure colour, simplification of forms to their basic volumes, and the faceting of objects." Winzer wrote, "Beling's landscapes are admirably constructed and his handling of the endless variety of greens seen in tropical nature is an achievement in itself. His figures are more angular than those of Keyt, and their movements less varied. Both, however, in their efforts are at one to express volume and construction in their canvasses - qualities in which modern art, in Asia, particularly India, is so deficient".[7]
In 1932 following Winzer's retirement he was appointed the Chief Inspector of Art,[8] a role in which he actively promoted both western and eastern art in schools throughout the country[3] until he retired in 1967. His duties meant he had less time for his own painting and stopped painting completely around 1945.
In March 2008 'Sketchbook: An Exhibition of the Beling Family to commemorate the 100th birth year of Geoffrey Beling' was hosted at the Sapumal Foundation in Colombo. Along with Beling's works of art, it also showcased sketches and paintings by his father, W. W. Beling.[9]
Family lifeedit
On 14 May 1941 he married Edith Maria Angela Anthonisz Deutrom (1917-?), the daughter of Percival Lawerence Anthonisz Deutrom and Anna Edith, at the Gospel Tabernacle in Wellawatte.[2] They had four children, Geoffrey Paul (20 July 1942), Christopher David (19 January 1944),Cynthia Ruth (29 November 1945) and Mary Anne (21 October 1959).[2]
Referencesedit
^Pieris, Anoma (2013). Architecture and Nationalism in Sri Lanka: The Trouser Under the Cloth. Routledge. pp. 92–93. ISBN9780415630023.
^ abcDe Vos, F.H (1949). "Genealogy of the Family of Beling of Ceylon" (PDF). Journal of the Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon. XXXIX (1): 11–18. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
^ abcGunawardena, Charles A. (2005). Encyclopedia of Sri Lanka. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 46. ISBN9781932705485.
^"Charles Freegrove Winzer". Art Ceylon. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
^"George Keyt". Taprobane Collection. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
^"W J G Beling". Art Sri lanka - 43 Group. Serendib Gallery. 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
^Senadhira, Shireen (7 March 2010). "How to appreciate Abstract Art". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
^ ab"Art Exhibition of Geoffery Beling". The Daily News. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
April 09, 2024
geoffrey, beling, william, james, september, 1907, march, 1992, lankan, artist, educator, founding, members, colombo, group, william, james, born, 1907, september, 1907gampola, lankadied29, march, 1992, 1992, aged, colombo, lankanationalitysri, lankaneducation. William James Geoffrey Beling 22 September 1907 29 March 1992 was a Sri Lankan artist educator and one of the founding members of the Colombo 43 Group 1 William James Geoffrey BelingBorn 1907 09 22 22 September 1907Gampola Sri LankaDied29 March 1992 1992 03 29 aged 84 Colombo Sri LankaNationalitySri LankanEducationSir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of ArtSpouseEdith Maria Angela Anthonisz DeutromBiography editWilliam James Geoffrey Beling was born in Gampola on 22 September 1922 the first son of William Wright Beling II a Ceylonese watercolorist and Eleanor Frances Morgan Swan a music teacher 2 In 1926 he went to India to study to study architecture and art at Bombay s Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art 3 In 1928 due to the untimely death of his father Beling gave up his studies and returned home He then opened a private art school in Havelock Town and started exhibiting his paintings at the Art Club shows arranged by Charles Freegrove Winzer Chief Inspector of Art In 1930 at the Ferguson Hall Union Place the photographer Lionel Wendt organised Beling and fellow artist George Keyt s first exhibition Critics considered the art manifestly ridiculous and degrading however Pablo Neruda the Chilean poet wrote in the Times of Ceylon that true artists are rare in Ceylon There are two exceptions 4 The exhibition also included works by Winzer to whom Keyt and Beling were pupils 5 6 Beling painted mainly landscapes still lifes and portraits According to Albert Dharmasiri Beling was fascinated by the pictorial innovation of Cubism developed by Braque and Picasso with his paintings from the early 1930s bearing a striking similarity to those of Keyt in the use of pure colour simplification of forms to their basic volumes and the faceting of objects Winzer wrote Beling s landscapes are admirably constructed and his handling of the endless variety of greens seen in tropical nature is an achievement in itself His figures are more angular than those of Keyt and their movements less varied Both however in their efforts are at one to express volume and construction in their canvasses qualities in which modern art in Asia particularly India is so deficient 7 In 1932 following Winzer s retirement he was appointed the Chief Inspector of Art 8 a role in which he actively promoted both western and eastern art in schools throughout the country 3 until he retired in 1967 His duties meant he had less time for his own painting and stopped painting completely around 1945 Beling also prepared the original designs of the Lionel Wendt Memorial Arts Complex in Colombo 3 9 In March 2008 Sketchbook An Exhibition of the Beling Family to commemorate the 100th birth year of Geoffrey Beling was hosted at the Sapumal Foundation in Colombo Along with Beling s works of art it also showcased sketches and paintings by his father W W Beling 9 Family life edit On 14 May 1941 he married Edith Maria Angela Anthonisz Deutrom 1917 the daughter of Percival Lawerence Anthonisz Deutrom and Anna Edith at the Gospel Tabernacle in Wellawatte 2 They had four children Geoffrey Paul 20 July 1942 Christopher David 19 January 1944 Cynthia Ruth 29 November 1945 and Mary Anne 21 October 1959 2 References edit Pieris Anoma 2013 Architecture and Nationalism in Sri Lanka The Trouser Under the Cloth Routledge pp 92 93 ISBN 9780415630023 a b c De Vos F H 1949 Genealogy of the Family of Beling of Ceylon PDF Journal of the Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon XXXIX 1 11 18 Retrieved 27 January 2015 a b c Gunawardena Charles A 2005 Encyclopedia of Sri Lanka Sterling Publishers Pvt Ltd p 46 ISBN 9781932705485 https www facebook com events 1591899001138084 user generated source Charles Freegrove Winzer Art Ceylon Retrieved 14 August 2020 George Keyt Taprobane Collection Retrieved 14 August 2020 W J G Beling Art Sri lanka 43 Group Serendib Gallery 2009 Retrieved 13 September 2017 Senadhira Shireen 7 March 2010 How to appreciate Abstract Art Sunday Observer Retrieved 29 January 2015 a b Art Exhibition of Geoffery Beling The Daily News 6 February 2008 Retrieved 13 September 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geoffrey Beling amp oldid 1142486427, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
