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| Sunday, 5 January 2003 |
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Fabric painting is hip by ANJANA GAMAGE If you thought fabric painting was blah stuff for macho males, think again.Three enterprising guys and a girl have set out to prove that creativity with fabric and paint isn't just fun, but also hip and is a viable work option. Amila Ruwan Kumara, Jayatissa Bamunuarachchi, Induka Prasanna and the only girl in the group, Deepani Gunasekera venturing into new frontiers of adventures in fabric painting, churn out creative ideas from " Leo eye Creations. Their mini 'factory' in Battaramulla. These include beautiful and unique designs on clothes, creative ornaments and a whole host more. The four artists met for the first time at the workshop of another leading fabric paint artist, Judith Bakthi Panditharatne of " Eco Gallery". " I had completed my A\L's in Bio- Science, but I was very keen on art and won national and international awards in several art competitions," says 23 year old Amila who hails from Himbutana. Amila cut his commercial tooth as an artist with Prasanna Batiks and later joined the Eco Gallery. At 31 years- Jayatissa is the eldest of the group hailing from Kaduwela. He studied at Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya and following his A\L in Bio-Science, completed a two year course in fashion designing and chemical science at Moratuwa University. Later, he also worked as a newspaper cartoonist and as an artist at the Hotel Holiday. " I have a five year working experience at Douche Lanka Textiles and to learn more on the subject I joined Mrs. Panditharatne, he explains. Twenty-five-year-old Induka of Badulla, is the graduate in the group. An old boy of Moneragala Mahanama Vidyalaya, he graduated from the University of Peradeniya and had a couple of stints as an artist before joining the Eco- Gallery. The only female among the creative foursome, 28 year old Deepani of Hokandara, is a member of the National Designing Centre. Wonderfully talented in making ladies' jewellery- using pan clay and glass, pottery painting, java Batik and wall hangers she is interested in all things creative. but says of her work with "Leo eye creations". Our main object in the field of fabric painting is to preserve the ancient culture of art and to present it in a different way". The group blending the traditional with the innovative, use traditional materials to create not only kandyan sarees, sarongs and shirts, but also lampshades, wall hangers, flags and many more items. Environment and nature conscious they also use their art and talent to protect the environment and keep it free of pollution,and have introduced a special kind of bags made out paper. Apart from fabric painting the group also undertake interior decorations and designing of bridal dresses. They also have sent some samples of their new creations to Australia and Hongkong and say that they are ready to accept suggestions and support from veterans in the field of fabric painting. |
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