Oasis of Silence
A photo exhibition on Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka
and Southeast Asia :
EXHIBITION: Buddhism, for sure, is popular in the West, in
Europe and America alike. What started as a trend in the late sixties,
when "hippies" discovered meditation and the Indian subcontinent, has
turned into a serious, in-depth involvement with the treasures of
"foreign" cultures today.
While predominantly Christian, the West has, during the past decades,
absorbed many Eastern wisdoms. When it comes to Buddhism, however, Zen
and Tibetan schools dominate.
This has to do with the fact that several prominent American and
European scholars, including theologians, intensively studied Zen in
Japan, and carried it back in a "digestible" form. And it has to do with
the Dalai Lama, for who's liberation struggle the Western world shows
great sympathy. Celebrities like Richard Gere are followers of the Dalai
Lama, and many are regularly practicing various forms of meditation.
So, what about Theravada Buddhism? Sri Lanka, the "cradle of
Theravada", prides itself of being the origin and guardian of the Pali
Canon, the first written testimony of the Buddha's teachings. But
strange enough, Theravada is not widely known in the West.
Beat Presser, a renowned Swiss photographer, is among the few, who
have taken the time and effort to immerse themselves into this school of
Buddhism. After a series of remarkable incidents, which started over 35
years ago with an accident, Beat Presser made his discoveries and
experiences of Theravada Buddhism available to the West in the form of a
unique photographic art publication: "Oasis of Silence".
The book was first published in German in 2005, and is now available
in English, with a Sinhala translation included.
The Embassy of Switzerland, in cooperation with the German Cultural
Centre, has invited Beat Presser to Sri Lanka, in an attempt to
strengthen the bridge across cultures built by the photographer.
This corresponded well with the photographer's desire to show his
artwork in its original environment, as a sign of gratitude for the
spiritual gifts he received during the five years he spent in Buddhist
monasteries in Southeast Asia.
His photographic portraits and views express his affinity to Buddhism
in a highly artistic manner, and with the perspective of an "insider".
The photographer himself introduced his project yesterday at the
Goethe Hall with a multimedia presentation. From February 24, the
Barefoot Gallery shows Beat Presser's artwork in an exhibition that will
continue until March 11.
On the occasion of the exhibition opening, the English version of
"Oasis of Silence" will be launched, which includes a Sinhalese
translation. The exhibition will be open to the general public.
During his stay in Sri Lanka, Beat Presser will conduct a photography
workshop for Sri Lankan photographers. With the collaboration of the
photographic associations in the country, the response to this
opportunity has been very good.
Twenty professional photographers will explore their own "Oasis of
Silence" through photography, and will have to opportunity to exhibit a
selection of their work from March 15 at the German Cultural Centre.
Many partners and sponsors, in particular Holcim Lanka, the Mount
Lavinia Hotel and Kodak, support these events in a generous manner.
Media partners are MTV and YesFM, together with the Lake House
publications - Sunday Observer, Daily News, Dinamina, Silumina and
Budusarana.
****
"Oasis of Silence" Programme
February 24 to March 11
"Oasis of Silence" photographic exhibition by Beat Presser, at the
Barefoot Gallery, 704 Galle Road, Colombo 3. For details contact 011 250
55 59
February 26 to March 10
Photography workshop with Beat Presser, at the Mount Lavinia Hotel
(participation restricted)
March 15 to 28
Exhibition of selected Workshop results, at the Goethe Hall, German
Cultural Centre, 39 Gregory's Road, Colombo 7. For details contact 011
269 45 62 or 011 471 26 36 |
