Raja Segar, one of Sri Lanka’s most respected contemporary artists, created this powerful oil painting Lord Ganesha in 2002. Measuring 97 × 71 cm (oil on canvas), the work exemplifies the artist’s distinctive “refractive” style, which blends Cubist fragmentation with vibrant color and spiritual depth.
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About the Artist: Raja Segar
Born on December 4, 1951, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Raja Segar (professionally known as Segar) is a self-taught artist and sculptor. He attended St. Michael’s College and developed his unique visual language through decades of experimentation. Segar is widely recognized for his figurative works that explore religious iconography — particularly depictions of Lord Ganesha and Buddha — alongside everyday South Asian life, landscapes, and mythic themes.
His style, which he describes as “refractive,” features overlapping geometric planes, fragmented forms, and dynamic interplay of light and color. This approach creates a sense of depth and movement while maintaining strong symbolic resonance. Segar’s paintings have gained international acclaim and are collected by enthusiasts across Asia, Europe, and beyond. His Ganesha compositions, in particular, are highly sought after for both their artistic innovation and devotional power.
Artistic Analysis of “Lord Ganesha” (2002)
In this 2002 masterpiece, Segar reinterprets the beloved Hindu deity Lord Ganesha — the remover of obstacles, patron of arts and sciences, and symbol of wisdom and prosperity — through a modernist lens.
The composition masterfully integrates multiple perspectives of the elephant-headed god appear simultaneously, creating a rhythmic, almost sculptural presence.The large white plate (or offering bowl) in the foreground, the lotus, and ritual objects reference traditional Hindu iconography while being transformed into abstract geometric forms.
Warm ochres, deep blues, vibrant yellows, and luminous whites dominate the canvas, evoking both ancient temple aesthetics and contemporary energy. Thick impasto and layered brushwork enhance the refractive quality that defines Segar’s oeuvre.
The painting captures Ganesha not merely as a religious figure but as a dynamic embodiment of cultural continuity and spiritual wisdom in the modern world.
Artistic Significance
Lord Ganesha holds a special place in Segar’s body of work. The artist has returned to this subject repeatedly over his career, with various versions admired in private shrines and collections worldwide. This particular 2002 canvas stands out for its scale, compositional ambition, and technical sophistication. It bridges traditional South Asian devotional art with 20th-century modernist movements, particularly Cubism and early abstraction.Kin
Today, the painting is part of the collection at Kings Gallery in Jerusalem, where it is offered as a significant example of contemporary Sri Lankan art with strong international appeal.
Kings Gallery is a leading fine art gallery established in Jerusalem in 1995. We strive to collect and sell the highest quality historic and contemporary Israeli and International art. The gallery specializes in artists from the early period of the 1920’s. In addition, Kings Gallery features leading up-and-coming young artists who will definitely be prominent names in the next few years.