150Last Supper (1993)

A. Mark (1933–2000)

Acrylic on canvas

Private collection, Batticaloa

In 1993 the students of the Protestant Chaplaincy of Jaffna University commissioned A. Mark to paint the ‘Last Supper’ as a gift to Bishop Ambalavanar (1928–1997) and Dr. Chandraranee Ambalavanar (1929–2017) on the occasion of the Bishop’s retirement. Jaffna, which was under the control of the  Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at this time and at the receiving end of stringent embargoes imposed by the Sri Lankan government, remained cut off from the rest of the country. Commissioned as a gesture of thanks to the Bishop and Dr. Ambalavanar for the years of community work they undertook during these difficult times, the painting portrays the apostles’ reactions as Jesus predicts that one amongst them will betray him. Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Andy Warhol, Hiroshi Sugimoto and Zeng Fanzhi, amongst others, have famously depicted this iconic moment of confusion and betrayal. This work is one of the few surviving paintings by the reputed artist Mark who painted scenes drawn from the bible in many of his early works. By painting a tightly composed grouping of figures, Mark heightens the tension of the moment. Their heated interaction with one another is softened by the pervasive use of warm colours. Although the table at which the apostles are gathered around is barely visible, Mark dedicates himself to painting three chairs in the foreground. Reminiscent of locally produced plastic chairs commonly found across Sri Lanka, the chairs in this painting insert a contemporary element into an otherwise traditional biblical subject.

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