A 30-year romance with Sri Lanka
Tom Tidball's People Sri Lanka launched :
  Acclaimed photographer, Tom Tidball has released a spectacular face
by face photographic memoir of the people that have not only pieced
together his 30 - year romance with Sri Lanka, but also captured what
Tidball himself terms as the 'spicy extremes and contrasting overlaps'
that makes the Island so unique.
Although Tom Tidball's initial attraction to the island had little to
do with the people, his residence in Sri Lanka since the 1970's has
drawn his photographic expressions to an eclectic collection of
portraits that define the face of one of the most intriguing islands in
the region. In his personal reflections, Tidball recollects, 'throughout
history, artistic efforts of all kinds have been inspired by expressions
of the island's local flora and wildlife. In time though, it is the
natives who inevitably grab your attention - something about indigenous
people seeming to grow out of their surroundings. The exquisite organic
essence of Sri Lanka - the colours, the rhythms, the flow of water and
wind - are all naturally reflected in the people of the land.'
From the historical heritage that embraces the sophistication of age
to the delighted energy of a youthfully naive grin to the intriguing
grace of a Lankan woman whether she is managing six yards of sari drape
or six towering pots on her head, Tidball's portraits tribute the
exquisite tapestry of diversity in the island. The images in People Sri
Lanka capture the fleeting moments of the daily lives of locals from
different parts of the country, each absorbed in different
circumstances. The collection contains original photographs from Tidball,
taken over the past 30 years of his residence in Sri Lanka, each of
which has been carefully selected to depict the contrasting yet
constantly overlapping lives that piece together the mosaic of Sri
Lanka's people. 'Honestly, I have never seen a more photogenic people
anywhere in all my travels. The beauty for me as a photographer is not
just their willingness, but how rarely the camera makes a Sri Lankan
self-conscious or changes dramatically the nature of the event' recalls
Tidball in his shared reflections. The magnetism and simple charm of
Tidball's photographs are an artistic combination of his unassuming
personality immersed with the sincerity reflected in those whom he
photographs. Tidball in People Sri Lanka attributes this famed
photographic versatility in his work to a delicate and longstanding
combination of 'balance, sensitivity and divine favor'.
Many acclaimed names in the local literary scene have contributed to
the production of People Sri Lanka.
The foreword to the collection have been penned by philanthropist Sir
Christopher Ondaatje, respected book reviewer and author of many
historical, geographical and biographical publications including Journey
to the Source of the Nile, and The Man-Eater of Punanai. Ondaatje's
experiences with the island date back to his Dutch Burgher heritage from
the 1930's, while his literary skill includes working as a publisher in
Canada and explorer and author in Britain.
****************
 Bahu Ranga CD launch:
Drumbeats of a master percussionist
Bahu Ranga, the maiden album of Ravibandu Vidyapathi will be launched
today at 7 p.m. at Lionel Wendt Theatre in a concert of Drum
Music by Ravibandu Vidyapathi. The CD was produced by M
Entertainment.
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