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'Sva Bhaava'
A photographic essay on trees

by Anoma Rajakaruna

An image of Buddha has appeared on a Bo tree in Nikaweratiya..'. Many people joined in a pilgrimage. Nikaweratiya, a small town on the border of the North Western Province, became as famous as Kandy, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.

We see many trees,
I begin to look
very closely, carefully,
at every tree
I pass by.

Jak, Cotton
Woodapple
Cashew, Tamarind,
Bo and Banyan -
I encounter
many human images.

Women and men
making love,
children crying,
some dying.

I did not go to Nikaweratiya. My journey began in Kotiyagoda in Monaragala, Sri Lanka and ended in Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, India. Khajuraho is famous for the erotic sculptures in its temples. The trees that shade the temple grounds are as erotic. 'Sva Bhaava' is a photographic essay of that journey.

"Sva Bhaava" - an exhibition of photographs by Anoma Rajakaruna was opened by Marie-France Pagnier, Ambassador for France, at the Lionel Wendt Gallery on March 7 in celebration of International Women's Day.

Several well-known women artistes from other fields were also present. The exhibition runs till March 10. As an independent film maker who has travelled extensively in South Asia, Anoma has documented the lives of community groups and in particular the lives of women in these communities.

Her films, some of which have won awards, have been screened at film festivals around the world. Anoma's skills as a photographer won her the opportunity to work both at the UN conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 and Beijing +5 Conference in New York in 2000. During the Beijing +5 Conference, she worked as a photographer for the daily newspaper 'Women Action 2000' which was published during the conference.

She is one of two women among 15 Photo Journalists from Sri Lanka selected for a three year traning programme by World Press Photo Foundation, Netherlands.

Anoma was awarded The Bunka Prize for Special Achievement in Photography in 2002 by Japan Sri Lanka Friendship Cultural Fund.

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"Sva Bhaava' is a Sanskrit word found in many South Asian languages, and a word with two meanings.

'Sva' means self, 'Bhaava' is feeling and form.
'Svabhaava' also means what is natural, Nature.

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