Arts
Little Vikum be flown to UK to showcase creations
Unilever International Art Project :
by Indeewara Thilakarathne
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Vikum Chandrasekera
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As the usually abandoned and lonely open theatre of the Vihara
Mahadevi Park was inundated with parents and children as the competition
began as the children dipped their brushes first into water and then
into pre-mixed up water colours were the instructions given over the
amplifier system.
No sooner the announcement was made the children started drawing
their hearts and minds out and poured their talent on paper in the form
of imaginative strokes and colourful dreams on sheets of white paper
while some children drew with their finger, dipping them in and out of
the colour containers.
By the side of the on-going competition were the selected entries of
the all island Art Competition delicately displayed and put up, on giant
walls. The wall-paintings were drawings by Sri Lankan students from
around 8000 schools scattered throughout the island.
The budding talent and graphical manifestation of hope and aspiration
of a generation of children who were chosen to express themselves in the
medium of arts was unbelievable. Almost all the pictures were evocative,
imaginative and undoubtedly showed enormous talent and creativity
embedded in Sri Lankan children.
 Ten-year-old Vikum Chandrasekera from Vijaya College, Matale, was
adjudged the winner at the Unilever International Schools Art Project.
Little Vikum paints with his fingers and will fly to United Kingdom
with his mother to showcase his creations along with the winning entries
from other countries at the prestigious Tate Gallery in London, an
envied life time fantasy of most artists.
Painting is fun and I try to do it all the time, after school and
especially during the weekend. It makes me happy to think that I can go
to England and show my pictures to everybody there. My parents, my
school teachers and friends are all very proud of me, said Vikum after
he received the accolade.
For Little Vikum hailing from Matale, the experience offers a rare
chance to participate in such an educational activity in the UK as well
as to meet and interact with child artists such as himself from all over
the world.
This event was a part of the Unilever International Schools Art
Project- a global project that has been run in countries the world over
since 2001. Successfully conducted in Sri Lanka for the second
consecutive year, entries were called from schools islandwide. The
exhibits submitted by the children were on display at the Vihara Maha
Devi Open Air Theatre on March 17.
This year's competition was held under the theme 'Reality and Dream.'
Among the outstanding entries there was a figurine made entirely out of
a spoon, a painting depicting peace and harmony made from Myriad type of
colourful seeds as well as paintings on canvas that took a creative
three dimensional turn.
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Some of the participants |
Prizes were awarded to the best entries in three age group categories
from 5- 16 years. Commenting on the event, Chairman of Unilever Sri
Lanka, Mr. Amal Cabraal spoke of the gems of creativity that lie in
every child. Every one of us is blessed with creativity, but only a few
are able to bring this latent creativity to life. We can all take great
pride from the exhibits around us, which depict a wide array of great
creative talent of our Sri Lankan children.
Unilever Sri Lanka is indeed proud to be able to help realize the
artistic potential of the children of Sri Lanka and help them showcase
their talent to the entire world. This is yet another initiative of
Unilever to add vitality to life.
The winner of the Competition, Vikum Chandrasekera comes from a
family of teachers; his parents Asoka and Deepani Chandrasekera are
teachers. His sister is in a Montessori.
Art and creativity are a strong force in both children with both
brother and sister actively engaged in the activity. Vikum's
achievements include the First at All island Atlas Art competition
(2006), -First Rithi Sitham all island art competition and First State
art festival (2006).
He also came first at Solius Mendis Memorial all island art
competition held in 2005 and second at All island art competition
organized by the Ministry of Education. Vikum has also travelled
overseas representing Sri Lanka at art competitions held in Japan
(Kanagawa International art competition), Bangladesh as well as India at
the Shankar Art Competition. He is also a Junior Prefect, Scout and is
in the Junior Band.
His favourite subjects for paintings are animations.
His parents first recognized his potential when he was six-years-old
and when the very first painting he drew was awarded the fifth place at
an all island art competition where he was also recognized as the
District level winner.
[email protected]
Exhibition of paintings
  An exhibition of paintings by S.H. Sarath will be held from March 23
- April 8 at the Alliance Franchaise Auditorium.
S.H. Sarath, is a restless seeker. He is impelled by a dynamism that
makes him explore all avenues available for creative expression. He is
for ever on the run creatively speaking as if pursued.
His way of life is determined by his unceasing urgency to bring art
into being. In his creative work, there is a visible flux. His
perception is never static. He tends to move on, in terms of his
ever-renewing vision.
(R.C.)
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  Sampath Amunugama's solo exhibition of paintings will be held from
March 28 to April 18 at Paradise Road Galleries 2, Alfred House Road,
Colombo 3. Sampath has evolved his own style of painting.
The idea for the exhibition sprang from the dubious human nature and
inherent contrast between the superficial appearance and alter ego which
compel people to act in contrast to what they believe in. Therefore,
people tend to experiment and cheat one another.
The drawings reflect diverse themes such as I, family, home, society,
masculinity, love, femininity, culture, religion, present, hope and
future. Art lovers should not miss this opportunity to broaden their
vistas on life, society and outlook on the social animal.
(R.C.)
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