Compiled by Ruwini Jayawardana

Druvinka goes "Beneath Beyond" to question life

PAINTING: Layers upon layers of what began as bright shades of greens, reds and blues on Nepali paper... Mysterious objects and windows... Spiritual symbols such as the yoni and the lingam... All these represent the abstract quality behind Druvinka's paintings.

The Sri Lankan born artist, who had been a student of Shanthiniketan, India, had mastered the tempera technique which has been taken from Moghul painters. This form of art requires oil to be laid at the bottom part of the painting. Tempera is laid on top of that causing a chemical reaction with the un-dried oil.

Rich shades of greys, browns, and blacks surface through the at least 25 to 30 under-layers, seeking out philosophies about life. What are beneath are our most basic selves.

Our fears, our hopes, darkness and dreams. What are beyond are space and the universe, God and heaven. How does one link the two together? "This exhibition is titled "Beneath Beyond". It invokes the process of the karmic life cycle," Druvinka explained.

"A herd of elephants is led by a female.

I have adapted this theme as a form to show matriarchy for women." "Beneath Beyond" will open to the public at Barefoot Gallery from February 15 to 23.

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Malligi annual to be released

Arul Sathya

MAGAZINE: Malligi (Jasmine), the oldest Tamil monthly literary magazine that emerged 42 years ago in Jaffna, celebrates its anniversary by releasing a special annual number at Tamil Sangam, Wellawatta, on February 17 at 5.30 p.m. organized by Dominic Jeeva, the editor of Malligi, the event will be presided by Illaya Abdullah, a young vibrant poet working in London.

The first copy of the Malligi annual number will be received by 'provelar' Hashim Umar while V. Dhanapalasingham, editor of the Thinakkural, along with Illayamambi Dayananda and Sri Prasanthan will address the gathering. Memon Kavi, a revolving literary personality, will sum up the event.

Dominic Jeeva, also known as Malligai Jeeva, received the "Desa Nerhru" award for his contribution to Tamil literature last year. He is the editor and publisher of Malligai who started this magazine in 1965 as a one-man show.

He said that he himself walked from street to street to sell this magazine. Marxist by nature and not hesitant to call himself a "Low caste", he had to go through many difficulties created by the "high castes" as well as anti-social reformists who considered him a troublemaker.

After the riot in 1983, the publication shifted to Colombo and Jeeva has his own book publication unit known as "Malligai Panthal" which has published over 25 books written by Tamil writers and poets.

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Somaratne's Imaginations

Wehelle Piyathilaka, Maharagama special correspondent

PAINTING: "Imagination 2007", an exhibition of oil paintings and batik creations by veteran painter and batik artist Somaratne Gomes and his students will be held on February 21 at 3.30 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery.

Gomes is a reputed artist who had conducted exhibitions in foreign countries. He is the first Sri Lankan artist to conduct an exhibition at the South Asian Art Gallery at Lusanne in Switzerland.

The speciality of "Imagination 2007" is that Gomes had accompanied his students in the exhibition. Thirty-five students had contributed paintings for "Imagination 2007."

Gomes had volunteered to teach and train in oil paintings and bathik creations free of charge at the invitation of "Mohan Lal Greru Foundation at Lyceum International School, Nugegoda.

Gomes had produced over 1,000 budding artists in oil paintings and batik creations. The exhibition will be opened on February 21 at 3.30 p.m. by the founder of Mohan Lal Grero Foundation, Mohan Lal Grero.

The exhibition will be open on February 21 and 22 from 3.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. Girls and boys who wish to learn and get a training in oil paintings and batik creations free of charge at Lyceum International School are invited to get their registration at the exhibition.

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'Cinema Today 2007' expo from February 16 to 18

CINEMA: Asia's first exhibition on the cinema and television industry, 'Cinema Today 2007', will be held in the city from February 16 to 18.

Celebrating a milestone

The show, with international participation, commemorates an important milestone in Indian cinema history - 75 years since the release of the first Indian talkie 'Alam Ara', (produced by Ardeshir Irani in 1931) and the first Tamil talkie 'Kalidas' (produced by H.M. Reddy in 1931).

Mr. Saravanan hoped the show would propel the industry to reach greater heights. G. Ravi, who heads one of the expo organisers Buvsell Interactions, said three important programmes would be featured as part of the expo. 'Talkie 75', a discussion on topics related to cinema, and paper submissions by eminent research scholars and people connected with the industry is also on the agenda.

'A Film Panorama', jointly organised by National Film Development Corporation and Mayajaal, is to be held on February 13 to 15 at the Mayajaal complex on East Coast Road.

A workshop on cinematography by the South Indian Cinematographers Association (SICA) would be held on February 17 and a tribute to the legends of the industry on the concluding day of the show.

Except the screening of the films, all other programmes are to be held at the Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam.