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| Sunday, 15 September 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Paintings by Sybil and Neville : A symbiotic affair
Sybil Keyt whose early tutelage in painting was under Cora Abraham and later a regular exhibitor for the young artists group held many exhibitions in Sri Lanka before she migrated to Australia. Her work has been included in exhibitions in London and Tokyo and other capitals of the world and she is a member of the 43 Group. Neville Weeraratne a 'second generation' member of the 43 Group exhibited with the group for many years, held major exhibitions with Sybil Keyt and his work is found in collections around the world. Tissa Ranasinghe in a foreword titled 'A Symbiotic Affair' writes: This well-known pair of painters are bound by remarkable affinities and contrasts - a symbiotic affair. The point of connection and continuity in their paintings in the recurring themes is the shared love of the people and places they left behind and images that haunt them and for which they ache.
Impulse and instinct plus a remarkable creative vitality help their work to go on developing into an honest art. Weeraratne's well-constructed, colourful paintings are a joyous evocation of remembered people and places elevated to a deserved majesty. Keyt's sumptuous facades and female figures shrouded in mystery in restrained yet vibrant colours should make this an exhibition at once pleasing to the eye and satisfying to the emotions. =================== When the sun is in no man's time by J.B.Dissanayaka The ancient Sinhalese believed that the Sun moves along an circle (Chakra) called the 'ra:shi chakra' because it is divided into segments called 'ra:shi'. Astrologers call it the zodiac. It consists of twelve segments or signs called 'ra:shi' each named after a constellation of stars such as Aquarius, Pisces, Aries and so on. The entry of the sun into a new sign is called 'su:rya sankra:nti'. Of the twelve such transitions, the most important one for the Sinhalese is that which comes in the middle of April marking the beginning of a New Year. It marks the transit of the sun from the last of the twelve segments, Pisces, (mi:na) to its first, Aries (me:sha). The sun does not enter the new segments as it leaves the old. It takes about four hours for the transition. This period when the sun is travelling between two segments belongs neither to the Old Year nor to the New Year. It is, in a sense, a 'No man's time'. In Sinhala this period is called 'nonagate:' literally, denoting a period of time when there is no auspicious moment, 'suba naekat' or simply 'naekat'. Since the Sun god is, in a sense, out of time during the nonagate, it is considered a period of ritual danger. The Sinhalese believe that the Sun God, (Su:rya divya ra:jaya:) travels in a chariot drawn by seven horses. The New Year (aurudu) is symbolised by the arrival of a prince, (kuma:raya:) and this 'aurudu kuma:raya:' (the New Year Prince) also comes in a seven-horsed chariot. In the eyes of the Sinhalese, the Sun God transforms himself into a Prince at the beginning of their New Year. =================== Contrasting themes
A career woman, wife and mother Jayani Pinnewala will hold her sixth exhibition at the Lionel Wendt Art Centre next week. Jayani who lived in Rome, Italy for over three and a half years serving as Deputy Ambassador and Acting Ambassador in the Embassy of Sri Lanka, was inspired by the rich culture of Italy and the interest shown by Art consciousness of the Italian people in painting. Italians recognise painters and sculptors as great creators and respect them for their talents. Jayani studied oil painting under a British painter and teacher in Rome and was successful at her debut painting exhibition held in the Isle of Capri.
Her paintings display a blend of Eastern and Western culture and at her exhibition at the Lionel Wendt from September 21 to 23, her paintings cover many contrasting subjects. 'The Nations Delight' is her masterpiece on landscapes which expresses the depth of natural beauty and according to Jayani her favourite painting is 'The Sun Set of Age' which brings out the feeling of loneliness and isolation one experiences at the sun set of life. Her creativity in colour combinations is extremely pleasing to the eye. The exhibition will be opened on September 21 by David Binns, High Commissioner for Australia at 11 am and on the other two days the exhibition will be open from 9.30 am to 7.15 pm. =================== Music for a cause
The Foundation to Assist Young Musicians in Sri Lanka to realize their potential has been formed initiated by a group of concerned individuals and reputed musicians in Sri Lanka. To grant financial assistance required urgently, Sri Lanka's foremost musicians Ananda Dabare, Menaka Sahabandu, Ramya de Livera and Dushyanti Perera and other classical music names will stage 'Music for a cause'. The concert is to help Thushani Jayawardena an extremely talented pianist, violinist and vocalist who has won many domestic and international competitions, the most recent being three gold medals from the North London Music Festival and Enfield Festival. The concert on Thursday, September 19, at the Lionel Wendt is to financially help Thushani Jayawardena to further her music studies in the UK. =================== Stages perform in Jaffna 'Filling the blanks' a play performed by Stages Theatre Company, both in Colombo, as well as at Culture-shock, the cultural festival for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester earlier this year, will be staged once again for Jaffna audiences at St. John's College, Chundukuly today 15th of September. 'Filling the blanks', written by five young writers, is directed by Ruwanthie de Chickera. It is set against the backdrop of the reopening of the A9 highway and tells of the journey made by Sumathi, back to the home he was forced to leave 12 years earlier. This endeavour is in keeping with Stages Theatre Company's commitment to performing original and multilingual scripts to audiences of all ethnicities. Stages will also concentrate upon the conducting of theatre workshop for various communities and organisations, will also conduct a series of workshops with schoolchildren in Jaffna. |
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Aacclaimed artists Neville Weeraratne and Sybil Keyt will hold an
exhibition of their recent drawings and paintings at the Barefoot Gallery
from September 22 to October 6.
Neville Weeraratne and Sybil Keyt also seem to enjoy the physical act
of painting - splashed paint on the canvas, the heady smell of turpentine
and the frustrations and the joy of a successfully completed canvas. To
them it is fun, too.
