Arts

Multi-faceted tapestry of art and installations

Theertha Exhibition Season 2007:

by Indeewara Thilakarathne and Ranga Chandrarathne

The annual exhibition season of the Theertha Red Dot Gallery commenced on November 14. As per the objective of the gallery, this year's exhibition season is dedicated to featuring works of four artists representing diverse trends as well as facades of their art forms.

The significant aspect of most of the artist who exhibit their creation is that they are associated with the "90s trend" which explore the themes of war, political violence and traumatic experiences associated with war. The artistes featured in the season are Anoli Perera, Sanath Kalubadana, Pradeep Chandrasiri, Anura Krishantha and Rohan Amerasignhe.

Anoli Perera ventures into a terrain which is more or less pre-defined as a male domain with themes, material, techniques and issues in the discourse of 'the feminine', 'the beauty' and 'the family'. Through her numerous creations, Anoli tries to define the perception of a "Woman Artist".

A unique feature of her creations is 'sheer will and dare to explore' into the traditional role allotted to women in Sri Lankan society. She came into the limelight with her exhibition of painting titled 'Aditi' in late 1990s. She questions the conventional morality and unwritten code of conduct for a woman which inhibits innate individuality.

She also looks into the diverse role a woman plays in society such as 'mother', 'bride' and as a person who faces the tension in the institution of family. Especially her works such as 'Dinner for Six' and 'I am the Queen' explores the traditional roles imposed by family on women.

Her recent work 'Silent Grievers', a series of sculptures and 'Comfort Bodies', a series of paintings depict the plight of woman caught up in the institution of family. It seems that her work carries feminine theme and questions the implicit social norms.

"I cannot utter a word for or against it, my love is made inexpressible" sumps up the core of subject matter of the installations by Sanath Kalubadana. Here Kalubadana consider 'Soldier' as a broader territory of artistic expression which is a prominent characteristic of '90s Trend'.

This theme has been worked on by proponents of '90s trend' including Jagath Weerasinghe, Chandraguptha Thenuwara, T. P. G. Amarajeewa and Chammika Jayewardene.

In this thematic territory 'soldier' is taken in quintessentially as an embodiment of war and violence rather than as an individual and the other approach is to take 'soldier' as an individual; a friend, lover, a fellow citizen. Kalubadana looks at the 'soldier' with an intimate perspective which is amply demonstrated in his works 'My friend in the corner-stand' (2003) and "The Lantern: Soldier come and go" (2006). Current work is a continuation of the theme.

Pradeep Chandrasiri, exponents of '90s trend', is preoccupied with an agonizing male figure which represents him and traumatic experiences. His current work is also on the theme of revisiting violence of late 1980s. In those works, Chandrasiri deals with theme in a more disciplined and melancholy manner.

Black and white, their shades has brought certain sense of oldness to the paintings. Anguish, fear of death a recurrent phenomena has been obliterated from the surface of the paintings thus conveying the sheer futility of violence.

Anura Krishantha's installations depicts Kitish's serious art from. The admixture has created a unique terrain which is predominant characteristic is clarity in expression. He has been working with chairs, tables and wreaths. He seems to be immersed in the pop- Kitish's tradition. "On another day a person I once knew sat in front of this table.

This purely tablecloth can't be that empty. I tried to recapture the vibrantly colourful and beautiful world that I once knew". In 2003, Krishanta's exhibition 'Charted Thefts", he extensively referred to the violence and death. In his work in the exhibition showcase 30 multi-dimensional works in the shape of chairs, tables and wreaths.

Rohan Amerasinghe's works centre on the recurrent theme of politics. As being a narrative artist, Amerasinghe's work has a story behind it, a characteristic omni-present in his work. For instance, his work 'Collective Suicide of a Generation' tells a story of the protracted war which claimed thousands of lives.

The Theertha Exhibition Season offers hitherto unseen facets of contemporary art in Sri Lanka. In a way, the works displayed in the exhibition are unconventional, perceptive and beautiful as well as depicts bizarre motifs.

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Jayasinghe paints in Paris

Two paintings depicting typical Sri Lankan scenery were sold by public auction in France recently.

Painted by Sanath Jayasinghe, a Sri Lankan domiciled in Paris for a number of years, the two paintings depicted the exotic presentation of the Kandy Perehera and an open air market (pola) on a Sri Lankan village.

The visitors at 'Eric Pillon encheres', the French auction rooms in the royal city of Versailles near Paris were attracted to Jayasinghe's painting which represented unique local styles.

A chance not very often received by outsiders, it is the first time a Sri Lankan artist has sold some of his works in a Paris auction.

Working in a painting shop in France, Jayasinghe's in born talent forced him to start painting during his leisure.

Son of late Mr. Solomon and Mrs. Francina Jayasinghe, Sanath was born in Pagoda, Nugegoda and completed his studies at Ananda Sasthralaya, Kotte. Sanath Jayasinghe is also the present president of Sri Lanka cultural Association in Paris. (SRF)

New Olympia Theatre reopens

by Nilma Dole

The New Olympia Theatre at Maradana recently unveiled with a new face recently with the screening of the movie 'Shooter'.

The Cader family who have owned this renowned theatre from 1926 making it the oldest cinema in Sri Lanka. They hope to offer families the chance to enjoy wonderful movies at an affordable cost much less that most cinemas around town. The latest Hollywood and Bollywood movies will be shown.

The Chairman and Managing Director of the Company are the owners of the Liberty Cinema and hence the New Olympia Theatre would be managed by Liberty Cinema Ltd. This will ensure that the New Olympia screens movies of that genre and of the same calibre of the films screened at Liberty Cinema.

The plush upholstered cinema seats are easy to access from the aisles, full automatic airconditioning is prevalent right around the cinema and the screening comes replete with DTS enabled audio and visual entertainment. The well-stocked canteen gives bites and drinks making you enjoy your movie more. The ladies and gents washrooms are well-cleaned and maintained.

Presently screening the Mark Warlberg movie 'Shooter' the stunning special effects and realistic sounds make you feel the action and drama much better. Witness movie viewing at its best at New Olympia Theatre with the whole family.