Healing hues

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Antonella Regi. Picture by Mahinda Vithanachchi

Her fascination and quest for colours led her to take up the brush at an early age. Born in the artistic backdrop of Italian landscape she was enthralled by architecture as well as by the paintings spread throughout the regions of Umbria and Tuscany.

What started as a passion became a part of her daily life and later a soothing balm during grief so much so that she had decided to name the collection of paintings ‘Healing Colours and other stories’. The exhibition of 83 paintings by Antonella Regi will be held at the Barefoot Gallery from October 3 to 26.

“It is a medium for storytelling. ‘Healing Colours’ are the protagonist of these stories which I have splashed on canvas.

We are all affected by colours because each shade reflects an idea which is entirely oppose to the other,” Antonella explained the philosophy behind her paintings.

The paintings are also products of the year she was engaged in a battle with life.

I am a cancer survivor and for a year I was unable to paint. I had colours flashing through my mind during those months of treatment. I clung to the hope of putting them on canvas as soon as the dreary period passed,” she said.

She studied painting at the Florence Academy of Fine Arts where she became familiar with the works of renowned artists and sculptors like Pollock and Mondrian.

Some of Regi’s exhibits

She moved to London and spent most of her days roaming the corridors of the National Gallery. While setting up a studio in West Kensington, Antonella exhibited her work in a number of galleries in the area. She had used a three-fold technique for her latest collection of abstract art.

Acrylics, watercolours and crayons merge together to create designs. She said that the chemical reactions of the three mediums caught her interest.

“I have worked with ceramics and this method is very similar to that because you are unable to predict the outcome,” she stressed.

“There is a belief that people who can’t paint engage in abstract art. That is false. What I am interested in is the unspeakable, the unpresentable and the metaphysical. Abstract art is almost a struggle against the canvas because you need to represent your ideology.

In figurative art you have some image to hang on to but in abstract painting you start with nothing. You engage in a process of building up colours, intersection of textures and shades.”

Antonella had exhibited her creations at countries she had taken shelter: England, Italy and Brazil.

Her last exhibition in Sri Lanka, held last year, was titled ‘Journey Through Colours’.

“Those paintings were based on my travels in South America and Sri Lanka,” she reflected adding that she loves driving through the streets of Colombo, enjoying the fantastic hues of colours.

“I paint when I am happy and when I feel the urge to express myself. Every work has a strong emotional association with its own story to unfold and a reason to be positive. It is not an ‘art’ of commitment or conflict but something for the viewers to enjoy,” she concluded also stating that she wishes to keep on painting.

Gamini The Emperor of Sinhala cinema

Fourth death anniversary today

The fourth death anniversary of veteran film actor, director and lyricist, Gamini Fonseka, falls today. He was the undisputed hero of the wide screen during the golden era of Sinhala cinema and had breathed life into many memorable roles.

A felicitating ceremony with the attendance of his family had been organised by the National Film Corporation. Popular media personality Jackson Anthony will speak at the event which will be held at the NFC cinema hall today at 5 p.m. A special screening of some of the clips and song items in some of his films will also be exhibited.

- RJ

An evening of music

A scintillating evening of music called Miyesi Visaka 2008 organised by Visakha Vidyalaya will go on boards at the BMICH, October 4 at 6.30 p.m. A popular line up of artistes featuring Shihan Mihiranga, Priyantha Fernando, Ranil Malalwarachchi, Deepika Priyadarshani, Uresha Ravihari, Dushyanth, Harshana and Samitha Mudunkotuwa will perform at the event.

Students will enthrall the audience with dance choreographed by the teachers of the school. The Compere will be Kamal Addararachchi.

Music will be provided by Flash Back. The proceeds of the event will be utilised for the much needed development projects of the school.

 Ithihasa Kathandara to be launched

Malinga Amarasinghe’s Mihindu Hamuduruvo, Sirimaha Bodhiye Kathava and Viharamaha Devi will be launched at Dayawansa Jayakody Book Exhibition Hall, Colombo 10 on September 30 at 10 a.m.

Amarasinghe is a senior lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Kelaniya.

He is also the author of Perani Lakdiva Vasthrabharana, Sigiriya Loka Urumayaka Vagathuga, Polonnaruwa Natabun, Lankave Purana Rajamaliga, Siduhath Kumaraya, Sithul Pavva, and many other scholarly works.

 Cine Club 2008

October 15 ‘Subway’ (6.30 p.m.)

After stealing important documents, a man takes refuge in the fascinating and eccentric underworld of the Parisian metro. A ruthless man-hunt is launched during which a strange relationship starts between the robber and his victim...

The Alliance Francaise de Colombo will be screening a host of French films for movie buffs in October. The films are as follows:

October 1

‘3 amis’ by Michel Boujenah (6.30 p.m.)

The film explores the themes of friendship. What is a friend? Do you have one? Am I one? What is this strange relationship that we call friendship? How can I be good to my friends? Do I have the right to intervene in their lives as a friend?

October 7

‘Comme Une Image’ by

Agnes Jaoui (6.30 p.m.)

This is the tale of four people who know exactly what they’d do if they were somebody else, but can’t handle being themselves very well. Very simply, they are struggling to find out who they are.

‘Despite boundaries poetry is universal’

Sachitra Mahendra

He is the budding Rabindranath Tagore composing poetry in the huge mansion built by his

business magnate father. Hasitha Udara Kulathilaka composed his first serious poem at the

tender age of 14, and now at 21, studying law at the Open University and shouldering his father’s business, he has published his maiden work, a collection of poems titled Pun Sanda (Full Moon).

Daily News ‘Art and Soul’ interviewed Hasitha to learn more on his works and influence.

Q: Most of your generation read and write fiction while detesting poetry. What made you tread this path?

A: I enjoyed reading since my childhood. Like any other bookworm, I read whatever I came across. I became fond of poetry and one day I thought why shouldn’t I try my hand on writing poetry. That’s how my first poem took form on paper.

As time passed, I chose Sinhalese literature for A/Ls, when many of my classmates went for ‘lucrative’ subject streams. I do not regret my decision. I learnt a lot about ancient and modern classics.

My parents are talented singers.

Even though my father is busy, he spares time to sing almost everyday accompanied by musical instruments. They taught me how relieving music is. I grew up with music and this may be another reason for me to turn to poetry.

Q: What sort of poems are your personal favourites?

A: I studied the works of poets like Parakrama Kodituwakku and Monica Ruwanpathirana for literature. I tracked down most of their poems and feasted my eyes and mind between their lines. I have read Buthsarana and Amawathura till the last pages and developed a passion for the language used in these ancient classics. I could grasp the creativity embedded in the verses more than the critical evaluation power. Sometimes you are short of words to relate how you feel about these poems.

Q: Speaking generally on poetry, it involves two categories: structural verse and vers libre. What have you got to say about this categorisation?

A: I use both, though my favourite is structural verse meaning the set of regulations involved with structural verse. For some reason, I find it easy to express my feelings. I am myself a law student (laughs). I remember the poet Kudaligama and his way of using structural verse. I am largely influenced by his poetry on infants and nature, which are also my favourite themes. Apart from Kudaligama, I like poetry by P B Alwis Perera and Munidasa Cumaratunga.

Q: Some scholars say Sinhala poetry was in a way influenced by Western poetry. Can you agree with it? Do you think reading or studying English poetry is essential in developing Sinhala poetry writing skills?

A: English and Sinhala are two mediums of expression. Just because English is nurtured by many other languages, it does not mean you should essentially read English poetry. Our folk poet did not know English, but he produced some of the best Sinhala poetry.

In my case, I read both English and Sinhala poets. There can be differences in territories, languages, lifestyles and expression, but the experience is human, and so it is universal. However there are exceptions.For example Shakespeare uses a lot of similes.

What keeps this centuries-old poet still attracting the modern grandstand? He manipulated English by taking the maximum use of the language. His writing is full of similes, fresh sentence constructions and creativity. I have hardly observed this feature in Sinhala poetry, but they have their own ways of expression.

Q: You are captivated by ancient and recent-modern poets. What are your feelings regarding the poets of your generation meaning poets who are your seniors?

A: I like reading some of their work, but I hardly come across modern poetry. I don’t know whether this is because of marketing problems, I see some reluctance among them to publish poetry collections.

Many complain poetry books don’t sell. This is quite different in English poetry. They are not bothered about marketing, and they just write poetry as a hobby.

Q: Tell us about your family.

A: I am the only child in the family. My parents are very supportive towards my talent.

They evaluate my poetry while helping me develop on the subject. They are my first critics.

My father, Udaya Kulathilaka, leads a hectic life, but astonishingly his choice of words when suggesting something is amazing.

My mother likes my poetry on infants. Sometimes she adjusts the word order so that they become lyrical.

I am blessed to have such parents.

Q: You are a director of your father’s companies and a law student. How do you manage your schedule?

A: I supervise work at one of my father’s companies in the mornings and I dedicate the afternoon for studies.

When I have some free space I use it to pen down poems.

Q: What are your future publications?

A: I am interested in Sri Lankan mammals. I use multimedia communication, and keep abreast of everything.

Therefore I have observed a lack of books on Sri Lankan mammals in Sinhala. There are two books, but they both seem to be copies of each other, and they don’t contain the essential information.

For example, neither of the books contain information about mouse deer, a special mammal species in Sri Lanka. I am also planning to publish an English poetry collection in the near future.

Q: How do you see the possibility of materialising these projects with your hands already full?

A: I have fact files taken from the Internet and other brochures on Sri Lankan mammals.

I will be having vacation towards March next year. I am going to spend my vacation on field doing research on Sri Lankan mammals.

New face on the block

Ruwini Jayawardana

It is a known that everyone has at least one remarkable talent but just because everyone is talented does not mean everyone has the natural ability to be instantly outstanding in a certain field.

It takes will power and dedication together with a bit of luck to excel in your skills and become an outstanding figure among many others who also boast of talent in a crowd.

Jaffer Rangeela’s entrance into the limelight was a combination of the above mentioned features. It was an unexpected move but one which signalled that he had a long way to go in the field.

He took part in Shakthi TV’s popular crime series Nijathin Nilal before making further strides through a number of commercials which are being aired on television channels these days.

With Pabodha, Ruwan and director Prasad Wijesuriya  in Pinkala Danawwa

He had also appeared in several teledramas like Wa Wathiare Wa which was shot in India opposite Manoharamma, the actress who hails from India and holds the Guinness world record for the most amount of film appearances, more than 1500. Singer Freddie J also chose him for his visuals in his music video “La Lai Li Lai Li”, an M Entertainment production and he had displayed his acting skills in several short films produced by Script Net, Wellawatte.

Born to an Indian father and a Sri Lankan mother, Jaffer can speak Urdu, Hindi, Tamil, Sinhala and the Moman Language. He is also talented in dancing and has a passion for Jive, Cha Cha, Slow rhythm and Samba dance styles. He enjoys listening to music and engages in exercises to enhance his bodybuilding techniques.

“I am a positive thinker and looking forward to proving my talents through diverse roles,” states the youth who is currently engaged as a Public Relations Officer at a private firm in Colombo.

His latest teledrama project, Mohan Kumar’s Vetri will be telecast along with ABC Films production directed by Chandran Rutnam , Alimankada Sita, based on Nihal de Silva’s award winning novel “The Road from Elephant Pass”.

His next projects on line are with directors Dhevadasan and Ramdas on which he hopes to double act. Jaffer is engaged in shooting for Pinkala Danawwa a Sinhala teledrama directed by Prasad Wijesuriya, starring Pabodha and Ruwan Wickramasinghe.

You can contact him through his e mail: [email protected]

Chalanato make global moves

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Chalana, a dance concert showcasing the talents of 18 children between the ages 12 to 25, will be staged at the Elphinstone theatre on October 4 at 6.30 p.m.

Janaki Hill

The dancers are from the Arakavila Dance and Theatre Foundation established by experienced dancer and actress Janaki Hill.

The troupe will also be a forerunner for the world renowned Edinburough Fringe Festival 2009 in Scotland. Chalana will be the only Sri Lankan representation for the world’s largest open arts festival due to be held from August 7 to 31, 2009.

Janaki had begun her career on the spotlight on stage.

She had performed on local soil as well as abroad and constantly updated her knowledge on the subject in India, Canada and Scotland.

Hailing from the suburbs of Arakavila she had incepted the Arakavila Dance and Theatre Foundation with the aim of unveiling the latent talents of the children of the area. “Chalana comprises traditional Kandyan, Low Country, Indian, Classical, contemporary, physical and theatre dance techniques.

It is much like a series of dances put together to make stories,” Janaki stated.