Leg
up for Creativity
The George Keyt Foundation, promoter of art and
artists all set for Kala Pola 2016 :
by Arun Dias Bandaranaike
The George Keyt Foundation focuses on the artistic talent of creative
people in Sri Lanka. What is special or unusual about the intention and
purpose of this collective is in the effort made every year and on
several occasions, to bring the public of Lanka closer to the work of
painters and sculptors who otherwise might need to wage a 'private
battle' to have their work seen and evaluated. This is achieved with
little regard to realising a profit for the foundation. Instead,
expending itself, and seeking the generous contributions and
sponsorships obtained from corporate Lanka. For several years now, the
annual 'Kala Pola' has had the outstanding support of John Keells
Holdings PLC. Why though might an organisation, or even a corporate
entity, be involved with art or artists who may be able to engage in
their creative work and make a living, as would authors, singers and
songwriters? The answer could be found in the fact that many artists,
despite the merit they display in their craft, often have issues and
challenges with maintaining their integrity within their selected realm
or genre of expression.
Whereas a singer or song receives popular acclaim by being heard on
radio or from performances on stage, at clubs, or even on television,
the quiet expression of a painter could well travel no further than the
confines of his studio. If the artist is yet unknown, the opportunity to
have any of what he does, be seen by people, becomes a very expensive
enterprise and therefore near impossible for one who is unsupported by
an altruistic 'patron of the arts', or by some keen aficionados who
might see his work and then review them. This modus does work, but that
would be in the case of very few individual artists who have, what some
people refer to, as 'luck'.
The
George Keyt Foundation and its Trustees (for indeed, it is a Trust with
honorary members whose declared motive is no more than philanthropic)
has seized the opportunity to serve as both promoter of art and artists
and also in providing the necessary 'platform' for the prominent display
of the work of literally hundreds of Lanka's artists. While it is true
that there are galleries and spaces in different places in metropolitan
areas, including some in prominent hotels where tourists and foreign
visitors have chances of spotting and selecting works of art, the
occasion such as Kala Pola is a vibrant gathering place, widely
advertised and well organised so as to provide the artist the chance to
exhibit his creations and also engage, one on one, with the members of
the public who come to see such art. This opportunity is unique, given
that the artists at Kala Pola number in the hundreds and are from
different areas of Sri Lanka.
The work of the artists will stand on their own merit. This, too, is
important. Public acclaim, when it does transpire, is genuine, in as
much as the buyers or viewers will respond honestly and frankly to what
they see and they will 'engage' with the artists as well.
Free of charge and open to the public, Kala Pola 2016 takes place on
Sunday, January 31 2016 along Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha in Colombo 7.
Presented by The George Keyt Foundation in association with the John
Keells Group, it opens at 8.00 a.m. and will continue until 9.00 p.m.
the same night.
(The writer is a Trustee, George Keyt Foundation)
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