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| Sunday, 15 August 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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' My way ' at Russian Cultural Centre
By popular demand, the unedited version of My Way written by Manuka Wijesinghe and directed by Lasantha Rodrigo will go on the boards of the Russian Cultural Centre from August 18 to 21. Manuka Wijesinghe's My Way was first performed in January this year at Frangipani as a dinner theatre experience where a bunch of young thespians brought to life the multi-faceted theme of being Sri Lankan. But the play is so much more than just about being Sri Lankan. It's about being gay or straight, being Sinhalese or Tamil, being immigrant or native, being rich or poor, being traditional or non-confirmist, being middle class or lower class... the list goes on. Beneath the thin layer of unmistakable lightness of the script, Manuka's play brings to light and life, issues that define profundity. The element of homosexuality, though pointed, is not what this play is all about. However, it is the basic premise from which stems all other action. The play as a whole deals with many other pressing issues akin to our society and culture. Some of these themes are race, nationalism and religion. Despite the inherent complications of all these phenomena, they are often subject to a simplistic dismissal by our society. This is what My Way strives to address and hopefully serve as a springboard towards a more profitable discussion. Another interesting and novel feature of this theatrical offering is its highly interactive style. The audience is completely immersed into the story and they all, to a great extent, become `insiders'. It's an intimate setting where you can laugh at yourself. All those follies we make without being aware of their non-sensical
implications! Tickets are available at Frangipani on Havelock Road,
Rumours on Inner Flower Road and the Russian Cultural Centre, Colombo 7. Beauty of Sri Lanka 8 P. A. Francis Perera, reputed artist, sculptor and six times winner of the Presidential Award, will hold his eighth solo exhibition of paintings and sculpture from August 19 to 21 at the Lionel Wendt Gallery, under the theme 'Beauty of Sri Lanka 8'.
Francis who hails from Kalagedihena, started his painting career as a child deriving much of his inspiration from the beauty and the serenity of the trees, brooks and wildlife surrounding his country home. He continued his advance studies at the Ceylon Society of Arts, where he won many prizes for his painting and sculptor, and broadened his horizons under the tutelage of two of Sri Lanka's great celebrities S. Lankatilaka and G. S. Fernando. Francis believes that painting is a visual language, which should be studied incessantly and understood. The Sri Lankan landscape that has captivated him has been portrayed in beautiful and tranquil scenes with tropical vegetation, the sea and its balmy beaches giving his painting a timeless quality. His understanding of the trend in European Art has also given a touch of romanticism to his work.
Francis has held many solo exhibitions since his first at Samudra Art Gallery, Colombo in June 1972. Many of his works of art continue to be exhibited at prestigious hotels in Sri Lanka. Francis has also participated in many overseas exhibitions including the 20th International Prix of Contemporary Art, Monte Carlo (1986), Kathmandu International Art Exhibition (1987), Art Festival, Germany (1989). Among the major awards received are the Contemporary Designs Award presented by the Ceylon Ceramics Corporation (1976), Merit Award for his sculpture 'GYPSIES' by the National Art Gallery (1970), First Prize for his Water Colour by the Ceylon Society of Arts (1995). The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has included Francis Perera among the
list of twenty outstanding artists of Sri Lanka. A colourful journey
"My personnel belief is a real painting could talk a lot more than a picture taken from a camera," says the artist, who adds "Old era artists as well as painting systems impressed me and there is significant influence of same are prominent in my present paintings. That is the main reason of my being comfortable of keeping two
different contrasting colours together in my paintings. However, I believe
that has already added more colourfulness to my paintings rather than the
meaning fullness." Classical Music Festival 2004 Classical Music Festival - 2004 featuring two internationally renowned artists from India and two well-known local artistes will be held at the Bishop's College Auditorium on August 20. This is the second Classical Music Festival organised by Tamasha. The two Indian artistes featured at the festival are Devashish Dey, who is a renowned vocalist of classical music, versatile in Bhajans and Bengali songs of high quality, and Madan Mohan Upadhyaya, a renowned Tabla player from an illustrious family of musicians of Bihar. Both these artistes have performed in several countries in addition to recitals on the Indian electronic media. The two local artistes to be featured are Kumari Moksha Samarasooriya of Gampaha, a versatile musician and dancer and Sarath Kumar Liyanawatta who has specialised in playing the flute. Tamasha was set up by a few oriental classical music enthusiasts in 2000 with the objectives of providing opportunities to those interested in the fine arts to listen to and appreciate classical and indigenous music and dance.It organises music recitals and lectures which will present creations of erudite artistes as well as accomplished young artistes, and organise music recitals by accomplished foreign musicians. The company also proposes to produce cassettes, C.Ds and videos of classical and indigenous music. Among other things the company also proposes to award scholarships to music students so that they could proceed abroad for further studies. The Classical Music Festivals are the highlight of the company
presentations. With love from Pakistan Famous Pakistani artist and social worker Jimmy Engineer will be in Sri Lanka from August 15 to 31, to carry out a series of programmes for special children who are mentally, or physically handicapped, and children who are underprivileged. The programme sponsored by Union Bank of Pakistan will be conducted in several parts of the country.Engineer, whose art has won him international acclaim, in a peaceful crusader for the oppressed, the disabled, mentally handicapped the impoverished and anyone who needs him. Engineer has the rare ability to communicate with people from all walks of life and has adopted an unusual, but highly effective method of creating awareness about issues close to his heart. His numerous walks have taken him over the length and breadth of Pakistan in pursuit of diverse objectives mostly in the context of promotion of human rights and human dignity enhancement of quality of life and the creation of an equitable civil society in Pakistan. |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
A naturalist, Francis has spend many hours in the forest, not only
painting its majestic form but gathering the roots of trees, that he has
transformed into works of art. Some of these will also be on display at
the exhibition.
Priyantha Udagedara 2004, an unusual journey of colours and experience
is now on at the barefoot gallery. This is Priyantha's third painting
journey portrayed in simple and eye catching mix of colours what the
artist had gone through in life and few pleasant experiences that deeply
touched the heart.
