Arts

World through a clinical eye

Sri Lankan wins a gold medal at 2008 Trierenberg Super Circuit:

by Ranga Chandrarathne

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Dr. Udara Ariyasinghe has won a gold medal at 2008’s Trierenberg Super Circuit under the category of Children of the World Special Theme Circuit. Trierenberg Super Circuit is considered as the Oscar Award of photography. The award ceremony will be held in Austria on October 13, 2008.

Exactly 20 year’s back, he was inspired by photography which eventually led him to enter this exciting field of art. Later on, he joined the National Photographic Art Society of Sri Lanka (NPA) and for a spell studied for a Diploma.

Though Dr. Udara could not complete his Diploma in photography, it does not affect his love-affair with art photography. His innate talents and clinically-precision eye is manifested in the photograph titled “Early bird” which won the gold medal at Trierenberg Super Circuit.

This is a picture which epitomised the Indian life in big metropolis. Here the photographer codified in a defining moment the life of a child who is shouldering his burden of life as maiden sun rays sweeps the city, perhaps, awaking many citizens from their deep slumber. The focus of the lens is on the child’s face which is brightened by the beacon of sunlight.

However, it is not clear when this child could see the sunlight of life and be able to go to school. Udara has a firm grasp of the fundamentals of art photography. Though the “Early bird” is a single shot, in a broader sense, it can be considered as a photo-essay.

The background of the photo is a fast moving cityscape and a busy city street. In order to focus attention, the photographer has moved the camera with the child so as to obliterate the background leaving very little signs to indicate that it is a busy street in the morning.

His forte seems to be the life in its diverse shades. His sharp eye with insight would not escape the impoverished shanty town and the people’s lives unfolding in busy streets. The “Carrom Champions” is an insight picture which encapsulates the lives of children in an impoverished community. Not so well-clad children play carom on a street.

The background of the picture is a wall of galvanized -sheets which perhaps serves as a demarcation between the street and the shanties. Children play happily quite unaware of their future.

“High Jump practice” is a picture of children practicing high jump using a boat on the beach. It may be a Tamil fishing village. The photographer skilfully captured the silhouette of the boat and the children on it. The background to the photograph is the beach under scorching sun.

“Oh, what a nice day” is picture of tramp sitting on the threshold of a not-yet-opened shop. The morning sun greets him with yet another new day.

The shadow of the building and the person are cast on the closed shop door against the maiden sun rays. Some of the other pictures which are excellent in their portrayal of life include “Jemima”, “J. Akbar” and “Mr. Peter D”.

The “Dark side of human “is the capturing of shadows apparently from an up stair. It is also one of the best shots that show in no uncertain terms that Udara is a highly talented photographer though he is also a qualified medical doctor.

He is really a man of many parts. He has also an abiding interest in music. Though little known he is a vocalist, guitarist and a keyboardist in addition to being a magician.

Dr. Udara is also a keen sportsman who plays cricket and badminton and dancer of Latin American dance.

Thirty fourth anniversary of Purogami Street troupe

The Purogami Street theatre group founded in 1974 celebrates its 34th anniversary. To mark the anniversary the theatre group has organized several events including enroling students for theatre workshop that will be conducted at Kamkarusevana in Ratmalana on July 15 and free workshop on Street Drama on July 19 at the Belihul Oya campus. Further information can be obtained from Weranga Mendis (0777-757807) and Gamini Hathtotuwegama (077-5234339) RC

Basil Mihiripenna Uvasara

A felicitation titled Adasiyavasaka Mihiripanne Uvasara Ulela will be held on July 30 at Nawarangahala. The ceremony will be held in appreciation of half a century service rendered by maestro Dr. Basil Mihiripenna on the field of music in Sri Lanka. RC

Apahu Harenna Behe (No Return)

Award winning contemporary playwright and director Rajitha Dissanayake’s most recent theatre endeavour “No Return” will be staged on July 12 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.

‘No Return’ is a compelling original play in which the hero returns home on completing a PhD at a foreign university with the hope of offering his services to the nation. On joining a state bureau that controls vital state information he soon discovers that there’s a price to pay for questioning the system and for defending the public right to information. RC