An exhibition of young creative minds at work

Prasad Abu BAKR

EXHIBITION: Children's minds are always preoccupied enacting colourful scenes in their imagination or even imagining the weirdest scenarios that we adults will sometimes find peculiar and at other times most funny or amusing.

In which ever way we look at them, it is an important event in any child's life to be able to express those juvenile feelings freely and within creative surroundings.

This is exactly what Noeline Fernando, the well known artist, has afforded for many a young mind within the surroundings of the Sapumal Foundation; which by itself has an ancestral artistic background to its existence.

This was the former private residence of renown artist Harry Peiris; which houses a large collection of paintings at present within its premises both by himself and by many well-known painters of Sri Lanka.

Today the place is enhanced by the creative activities that Noeline and her students carry out here on a regular basis.

Noeline Fernando has dabbled in art since her childhood, her ability to teach and lead young minds to express themselves creatively stemmed from her long standing association with Cora Abraham, a pioneer in fostering education through art amongst the young at her Melbourne Art Classes, which has an excellent background in leading many successful adults on a creative journey during their childhood and who are professionals today in vivid areas of their chosen fields of work.

Noeline has brought with her that gift of understanding and extracting the best of any young creative mind without strenuously 'Teaching Art'. A method which was the special gift possessed by the late 'Mrs A' as many still fondly remembers her.

"It is very important that children perfect their ability to draw from still life and their day to day surroundings, to make themselves familiar with shapes and forms of what they see," says Noeline, explaining that some of her students are not very keen to go through such exercises as they prefer to express themselves mostly in creative ways.

This is the annual exhibition that Noeline is organising with her students.

She made special mention of many of her students who have excelled in their work and has been with her for sometime now.

Shari Amarasuriya a 15-year-old shows a lot of promise along with a number of others on similar grounds - Chaturi Jayasuriya (9 yrs), Emanthi Peter (13 yrs).

Shanker Wijetunge, Tulasi Elapatha, Deshika Elapatha, Damindri Fernando, Sven Muller, Sethuri Gunasekara, Thishara Rajakaruna, Delika Weerawardena, Chianna Botejue and Anne Wickramasinghe are some of the others who have worked extensively for this years exhibition, said Noeline.

Some of the older students have created pictures which appears to be more of a three dimensional effect to the viewer.

"They call them Pop up pictures," said Noeline explaining that students work with mix media to create these pictures, which composes a part of this year's exhibition along with many other creative works of different levels by children of varied ages.

This exhibition of children's art and creative crafts opens at the National Art Gallery on December 9 at 1.00 pm and will be open until 6.00 pm on that day. On the 10th, 11th and 12th the exhibition will be open from 9.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. daily.

Dream Boy - the hunt for the right guy

CINEMA: For the first time in the local Tamil film industry 'Dream Boy' acted and directed by Riyaz Mohammed, one time popular TV personality, is set to strike a turning point with the influence from South-Indian film experts.

The shooting has already taken place in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore and will go to European countries too.

Riyaz is playing three roles in a fascinating love story combined together with amusement and comedy.

Neha, a newcomer from Bangalore, plays the main female role, while Vaitee Richi, Hing Suwayo, Oon Michado from Bangkok too contribute.

The story originated by Ramji is being choreographed by Riyaz. Lighting and Camera by AVM Anton and the five songs are written and composed by Nathan, a displaced Sri Lankan in Canada.

The film is produced by Ifham on behalf of Riyaz's firm - The World Media Dreams.

Riyaz who started as a journalist became a TV presenter.

His first entrance to the film industry was through "Neeru Pootha Neruppu" directed by Ramji. This will be released shortly.

'Swarna Sammana' serves the vocalists

Jayamini ATTANAYAKE

MUSIC: ITN "Swarna Rathriya", the Golden Night, pursuing a golden note to lull the country and awaken the nation, rents the air over the ITN Amateur Vocalists Competition every Saturday night to enchant thousands of TV viewers across the country with a great deal of fascination. Hashantha Sri Lal Hettiarachchi directs the Programme.

The programme is based on a novel methodology quite consistent with the indigenous taste serialised in several rounds of skill testing of each contesting amateur vocalist. The round now in progress is the semi-final.

In this round six contestants will be selected for the final. Among them, the vocalist adjudged the best at the final will be awarded the ITN Gold Award of "Swarna Sammana".

The special feature of this competition is that in the selection of the finalists, the TV viewers have the opportunity of exercising their vote through SMSs or Postcard.

Nevertheless, the best among the finalists will be adjudged by a special panel of judges consisting of renowned and highly qualified musicians in the island.

"The contestants selected for the final round will be manifestly talented to be considered as excellent in the art of singing. Our aim is to provide a stage for them to reach the national level. The doyens in the field of music were not born in a day.

They attained success through a long process of trials and errors. We hope that the 'Swarna Sammana'. Competition of the ITN will produce a vocalist of excellence in due course," said Hashantha Sri Lal, on the "Swarna Rathriya" programme.

The Wonders of Egypt

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

PAINTINGS: Padmini Serasinghe recently held an exhibition of oil paintings at the Egypt House, Colombo. The 46 paintings were based on Egyptian landscapes, mostly along the Nile. These were linked with the artist's experience during her stay at Egypt.

"My husband, D. Serasinghe, was the ambassador to Egypt since 1999. I started working on these paintings in Cairo. It was the beauty of the Egyptian landscapes which inspired me," recalled Padmini.

This is the first time she has held an exhibition in Sri Lanka and her aim is to acknowledge the Sri Lankan community about the wonders of another country: the ancient pyramids, the blue Nile, Aswan the mosque of the mad Ibn Tulu, Cleopatra beach, and the Sphinx to name a few.

She had held a number of exhibitions in Egypt and had done paintings based on the landscapes of Kenya and Sri Lanka.

"The main theme in my exhibition is water as most of my paintings are related to rivers and beaches." she stated.

Star of Omega

MUSIC: Star of Omega - that's the name of the newest stage act in town.

Formed by veteran award winning pianist and composer "King" Claude Fernando, the group comprises Suhadini and Andrea on guitar, with Nadeeka and Shinee on violin, and Claude himself on piano.

All five of them sing, harmonise, compose and perform their own songs, all originals, in English, Sinhala, Tamil and Hindi.

Their maiden CD contains 14 original hits like "Don't get married" and "Cell phone Akki".

They are also completing their Christmas album of 18 popular seasonal songs and carols, which they will also perform live at Christmas parties and shows during the season.