Arts

Printing as a form of art

Exhibition of Printing by Students of the University of Visual and Performing Arts:

by Indeewara Thilakarathne

Although the print-making as a form of art is not popular in Sri Lanka, it has been one of the major mediums of expressionist art form in the West. It is a common scene in many of prestigious art galleries in Europe including France and Germany. Print as an art form is also popular in Japan.

However, Sri Lankans also had the rare chance of witnessing budding talent in this unique and fascinating form of art when the Exhibition of Printings by the students of the University of Visual and Performing Art held an exhibition of their work at the Alliance FranØoise in Colombo.

Primarily print-making media such as wood-cut, screen and cardboard prints have been used to express myriad themes ranging from the shocking experience of Tsunami to intimate feelings of love.

'A significant difference between the conventional notion of printing which is often identified with off-set and other technologies is this, this media is a form of art in printing. Here, the entire process of print-making is manual and artistic skills have been utilised in drawing and carving out figures', said K. T. Lal Jayasekara, a forth year student in the Print-Making section who also contributed to the exhibition.

Another important factor was that the students made use of the minimum facilities available in Sri Lanka for their creations and developed technological mediums such as litho and engravings could not be utilized due to technological constrains. Dr.Sarath Amunugama, Susiripala Malimbada Dean of the Faculty of Drawings and Sculpture have been the livewire behind the initiative.

Lal's work was centered on the theme of the meaningless nature of life which he has used in Wood-Cut and Mix media for his creations.

The tsunami has been taken as a singular moment that drives home the message of the bristle nature of life and the inconvenient home truth of impermanency. Screen-printing, Wood-cut and Mix media have been used for the creations.

The exhibition which was the first step towards closer ties between the University of Visual and Performing Art and the French Cultural Centre offered Sri Lankan art-lovers, an opportunity to appreciate a novel form of art with a fresh eye.

[email protected]
 

Sri Lanka's first war-film

Northern Wind 48 hours:

The first ever Sri Lankan war film 'The Northern Wind 48 Hour' was recently launched heralding a new era in Sri Lankan films. The film directed by Charith Kiriella, was produced by Major Nissanka Senadhipathi.

The film which will poise to be one of the mega productions is based on the overran of the Mankulam Army Camp by the LTTE and the heroic fight to the last by Captain Saliya Aladeniya and Lieutenant Prabhath Abeywardena.

The official website of the film was launched by Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The launch was attended by Service Chief and the Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga who described the film as a true tribute to the armed forces protecting the nation from the clutches of terrorism. One of the unique features of the film is that it is for the first time that battled hardened solider produces a film based on a fierce battle he himself took part in.

Producer Major Nissanka Senadhipathi has a distinguished career in the Sri Lankan Army and had participated in many operations including Kattaparichchan and Kokawil and the Mankulam battles.

Director Charith Kiriella said that though he had encountered numerous obstacles in the production and expressed that he would get the blessings and assistance from the nation to complete the film which he described as a fitting tribute to the fallen heroes.

IT

'Batti' passes 150th milestone

by Indeewara Thilakarathne

'Batti', a popular tele-drama which is being telecast on Independent Television Network (ITN), has celebrated telecasting its 150th episode in a charm ceremony held at Hotel in Biyagama.

A high light of the event was the awarding of the actors and actresses by the selected viewers. At the celebration, the actress and actors sang to a background music played by a band. Batti is based on a cartoon series by Wickramanayake of the same name published in newspapers.

Awards were given to all most all actors and actresses including Damitha Abeyrathne, Roger Seneviratne, Nethali Nanayakkara and Lionel Wickrema.

It has been pointed out that Batti has able to capture viewers who were earlier addicted to imported cheap fantasies telecast by certain TV channels with ulterior motive of creating a local market for imported tele-dramas.

Exhibition of pictures to commemorate Vijaya

An exhibition of pictures capturing salient moments of the late Vijaya Kumaratunga organised by the Alliance for the Vision of Vijaya will be held at National Art Gallery on October 15 and 16.