Ladder to Life

An exhibition based 'on the feelings of joy for simple things' at the Barefoot Gallery, 704, Galle Road, Colombo 3.

by Prasad Abu Bakr

If we look back in to our childhood it is amazing how many things that nourished our lives and gave us the simplest joy of living surrounded by them. Today most of us have even forgotten some of them and the feeling that prevailed at the time. Ladder to Life is a reminder of what it was like.

It was mostly handwork, woven cajun composed together was used as partitions and on the floor to sit upon. Bamboo tied together creating a ladder out of it stood against the wall as a clothes rack or laid on horizontal on wooden stools converting it in to a small dining table.

Architect Anura Ratnavibushana who was at the exhibition said that most of the objects made using the coconut tree conveyed a sad message how in a few years time there will not be any coconut trees left in this country considering the manner in which estate owners are selling off their lands, developers seeking land to build apartment blocks and houses.

"The coconut board should visit this exhibition and see to themselves", he further added. The collection put on show beats in the feeling how we ignore the many products that are turned out using rush and reed, coconut fibre and many other natural material, which in fact are totally user friendly within our household.

In comparison we tend to dote upon plastic and admire it for its durability or even aluminium; a metal that has been reported to produce toxic acids as result adding lime to flavour curries while being cooked on a high flame.

Ladder to Life is presented to the viewer in a remarkable fashion automatically taking him on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

Though initially it appears to look like child's play as you proceed through it there seems to be a profound base on which all the products had been shaped upon.

We, the culprits in sacrificing everything that is simply beautiful and swap them in return at acquiring utensils and other household effects which are composed of rubber, plastic or aluminium are today witnessing a danger to our lifestyles owing to the pollution created by these elements.

Ladder to Life is not merely an eye opener alone. It is a reminder that we should at least try to blend these beautiful things into our daily surroundings before they cease to exist and fade away with time.