Arts

An insightful encounter with Theravada Buddhism

The Oasis of Silence by Beat Presser :

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The floating nun

My oasis of silence

(I selected immovable statues to signify the silence and I place them in the frame going from one end to another end diagonally to take the viewer deeper into the oasis of silence. I left lot of space above the statues to show that we can find our oasis of silence anywhere in this universe - Beat Presser).

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by Indeewara Thilakarathne

The exhibition of photographs on Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka and South Asia by Swiss Photographer Beat Presser was a collection of rare insights into the fascinating monastic life of the Buddhist clergy in the Theravada Tradition.

Having immersed himself in the life of the Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma and also visited major monasteries in South Asia, Beat Presser has not only captured salient features of the rich spiritual tradition, and life of a Buddhist monk in the Theravada Tradition but also captured the inner-most peace of mind and the omni-present silence of the monastic life.

Perhaps, the most striking pictures among the exhibits are the pictures under the caption 'floating nun'. The pictures depict a Thai Buddhist nun (or Meheni) in deep meditation floating on the surface water which is a rare phenomenon in a fast moving hectic, consumerist society.

Presser through the space, wide-frames and diverse techniques, has masterly portrayed the 'silence' and also the tranquillity that pervaded in the monasteries in Thailand, Cambodia and one of his preferred monasteries in Sri Lanka, Dimbulagala.

The entire collection including the images which are being exhibited, has been incorporated into his book titled 'Oasis of Silence' with insightful notes that Presser made during his rather eventful journey into Theravada Buddhism over a period of five years.

"While travelling in South East Asia, when I was 19 years old, I encountered a car accident which left me badly injured. I lived in Thailand and this accident occurred on my return journey from Laos to Bangkok. People took me to a hospital but there was no place for me.

So they transferred me to a monastery in Cora. The monk was a famous healer and I was paralyzed. During the stay in the monastery, I saw the monks' life. It was so fascinating that I decided, later on in my life, after becoming a photographer, that I would come back and do a story about Buddhism, "said Beat Presser recalling his remarkable encounter with Theravada Buddhism in Thailand.

Thirty years after the accident, Presser decided to come back and do the story about Buddhism. This assignment led Beat Presser to discover Buddhism and he has learnt a great deal of Buddhism, Yoga and meditation which he continues to practise up-to-date.

For five years, Beat Presser has been travelling and living in the South Asia capturing with his camera, the age-old tradition of Buddhism which is not only a religion but also a way of life.

Parallel to the exhibition, Beat Presser has also conducted a workshop on photography titled 'My oasis of silence'.

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To mark fifty years of art

Miranda Hemalatha Kala Ashramaya completes fifty years. Having started in 1957 with three students today the institute has been registered as a Fine Arts College producing hundreds and thousands of students studying classical Ana Creative Arts in the field of dance music, art and drama.

The narthana Piyasa, Diridaru Piyasa (Special childrens unit), Sangeetha Piyasa, Chitra Piyasa and the Natya Piyasa are projects working together for a common objective to serve the needy children who are in need of the services of artists.

Activities Thanha Asha presented by the Diri Daru Piyasa, a dance drama and few dance items will go on the boards of Lumbini Theatre today at 5.30 p.m.

Landmarks of New York

Fascinating black and white photographs of 81 landmarks of New York, certified as historic landmarks are on exhibition to the public at the Harold Pieris Gallery, Lionel Wendt Theatre, presented by the American Center Colombo.

This travelling photo exhibition which was on from February 27 will be on till March 10, 10.00 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. on each day. Admission is free. The exhibition will continue at the Public library Galle, from March 14-18 from 9.00 a.m. - 6.30 p.m. Here too admission is free.

The photographs have been selected from more than 1,100 landmarks designated in all five boroughs from 1965 through early 2005, and range from parks, to important piers and bridges, State buildings, theatres, museums, sky rise buildings, homes of well-known personalities and places of historical and social interest.