Montage - Cultural paradigm | Sundayobserver.lk

There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer-Ansel Adams

The recently held exhibition of photography at Galle Face Hotel entitled "Sri Lanka, My Love " by Yongqiu Liu casts serious doubt about the above saying as it was a rare occasion where the photographer and the viewer merged in to create memorable impression on manifold life of Sri Lanka.


Anticipation May 26, 2009. Menic Farm, Vavuniya. A little girl waits for water in Menik Farm, one of the IDP camps in the North.	Light up the world July 25, 2010. Colombo. A coconut oil lamp blazes brightly, flooding the atmosphere with light at the closing ceremony of National Hand Craft Exhibition.	New Beginning November 15, 2009. Once, she was a child soldier of the LTTE holding a gun but now with a pen in her hand she is studying at the Ratmalana Hindu College.	A Ray of Hope November 5, 2009. Tangalle. Heshani, a tsunami victim, learns how to overcome emotional difficulties after the bitter experience she had when she was only thirteen years of age.

The exhibition was primarily divided into five sections covering five specific areas which constitute the very spirit of the nation. In the first section figures, the photographer captures rare moments in the busy schedule of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The picture captures the sheer joy Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa celebrating the `Aadi Vel' festival. The picture is with the apt title "sharing the festival joy". The picture entitled 'Steering the Country Forward' captures expectation filled moment where President Rajapaksa releases the sea water into the Hambantota harbor.

Among the insightful images in the first section, one of the rare snap is "A ray of hope". Though it seems a picture of an ordinary girl's face under sunlight, the artist in the photographer has virtually drawn a painting out of life through her lenses. The girl's facial expression are fixed on for a moment as she looks at something with hope and the bright sun light filtered through part of her bust while the remaining of the bust is little darker. The girl is a Tsunami victim and really looks for a ray of hope in her life.

The 'Brave Boy' is a rare moment of Dinesh Sandakelum Rajapaksa who is just nine years of age saved four adults from the untamed waters of Loggaloya. one of the significant aspects of Liu's photography is her innate ability to capture slice of life from people of diverse social strata and in entirely different circumstances so as to represent a generation or a group; pictures such as 'Flowers for my Lord', 'Little star', 'A brave boy', 'Power' and 'Devoted' are some of the pictures which depict not only individuals from different walks of life but also from different socio-economic background.

A part of the exhibition is devoted to feature Shrines which constitutes Sri Lanka's rich cultural diversity. Some of the pictures such as 'Fire Jugglers', 'Majesty' and 'Reflections' are noted for their insights into defining moments of colourful Kandy Perahera in the temple of tooth. For instance the snap 'Reflection' captures the serene atmospheres in the temple of tooth with reflection of the lit up Paththirippuwa, octagonal structure, on the placid water.

The picture entitled 'Lit up the world' is a close up of a coconut oil lamp. The photographer has deliberately blurred the background so as to focus the attention on the lamp and its burning wicks. Among the picture on nature, pictures such as ' Brave hearts', 'Still fishing', 'Happy Clouds' and 'Footprints' are noted for their photographic excellence: the black and white picture captures the a rare moment in nature with a couple enjoying the sunset in Negambo beach.

The section 'Aftermath' extensively deals with the subject of protracted conflict, its consequences on the population at large. 'A sleepless night' is a photo taken when the LTTE launched an abortive air raid in Colombo, which was thwarted by the Forces destroying one air craft. This section is, perhaps, the most important section in which the photographer has captured the environment in the aftermath of the conflict. For instance, 'New beginning' is a picture of an ex-child soldier who has now taken pen to study for life. Yongqiu Liu's pictures offer fresh and untainted impression of Sri Lanka through the eyes of a person who loves Sri Lanka.


Reflection August 24, 2010. Kandy. The reflection of the decorated Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth) in Kandy where the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha is placed.	Fire Jugglers August 25, 2010. Kandy. The fire dancers and jugglers spinning the balls of fire around their bodies and heads while rolling on the ground or sometimes walking on stilts, make a spectacular sight at the Esala Perahera.


Sharing the festive joy July 23, 2010. Temple Trees, Colombo. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa celebrate `Aadi Vel' - the Hindu festival held in honour of Lord Muruga or Skanda which wended through the city streets with colour and glamour after a lapse of 16 years.	Happy Clouds Clouds scattered in the vast blue sky, painting it white, at the break of another brand new day.	The power August 20, 2009. Puttalam. Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa speaks at the completion of the main building of the Puttalam Coal Power Plant. A Chinese company was awarded the contract of the project which will generate 900 MW of electricity to the national grid at the completion in 2013.


A sleepless night February 20, 2009. Colombo. A photo captured when the LTTE launched an air raid in Colombo, which was thwarted by the Forces destroying one aircraft.	Rainbow March 28, 2010. Negombo. Rainbow is a wonderful sight nature offers. This lovely rainbow was seen across the sky, over the Negombo Lagoon after a slight drizzle.	Footprints July 4, 2009. Negombo. As the sun sets bringing in the dusky night, a couple walks on the beach enjoying the serenity.

Authentic impressions on Sri Lanka through the lens of an artist