The Silk Rout

Nilma Dole

Romaine Ferdinands

“We will inevitably lose mother nature’s bounties if we don’t do anything about it” said

Romaine. She emphasised that she wants to imprint such breathtaking scenes on her silk masterpieces before they are lost forever.

“At least our children can know how life was like back then,” she said.

Romaine had her first brush of silk art when she saw her counterpart Putaraj Fernando’s work that was exhibited in China. Also, silk art gave her an opportunity to channel her energies into painting scenes that were soon becoming irreplaceable. “I remember during my school days, when we used to run through the green fields where egrets used to live but development has got the better of it with buildings and houses mushrooming in every nook and corner” she said, happy that she painted what was etched in her mind.

Adding more to the facts, she said “I also paint wayside landscapes like little vegetable stalls, perahera processions, animals in nature, historical monuments and even unique buildings like the old Dutch building at Staples Street to preserve these settings on silk”.

Bopath Ella

Ancient Visa Anuradhapura

Having studied under renowned silk painter A.G.S. Amarasekera, she says “I was taught by him when he was nearly 100 years old and it was at that time that I discovered I had a rare talent for figure drawing on silks”.

Romaine says that every brush stroke is important and a minor mistake can cause

significant damage that can ruin the whole creation if one isn’t concentrating on the painting properly. “I have to be extra careful when I paint because rather than using canvass, I can’t hide my mistakes by camouflaging” she said.

She has to paint gentle brush strokes with small movements and wait for the paint to dry well before embarking on the next stroke.

Romaine uses South Asian silks to create her masterpieces and sometimes it takes her months on end to create a work of art. Even though today she heads the marketing department in a renowned corporation, her talent for silk painting will definitely continue. She hopes that she will eventually train potential silk painters because it is an exclusive circle that few can master.

“In France, China and India, silk painting has increased in popularity but in Sri Lanka, it has to strike the right chord because even though we are gifted with talented artists, harnessing the talent is vital”, she said.

Romaine had her first exhibition in 2003, her second was in 2005 and hopes to have another exhibition in the future.

“I am a self-confessed tree hugger and I hope that there is an awakening and understanding of mother nature. I believe that development and nature should go hand in hand together because we should have a sustainable environment but not destroy it,” she said. She is hopeful that silk painting will catch on and advises upcoming artists to accept defeat even though silk painting can be a daunting task.

“The more time you spend on your artistic skills, the better you can understand the medium - have patience,” she concluded.

Fire and drums, Kandy	Sacred peak	Sigiriya

Nuwan on the ‘write’ track

Sachitra Mahendra

He was just 10, when Malini Fonseka handed him a ‘Film Encyclopedia’, and that changed his way of thinking. Nuwan Nayanajith, now a professional journalist and a visiting lecturer reaching thirties, has five works to his credit.

Nuwan Nayanajith

They say family plays a main role in molding one’s character. So did Nuwan’s parents, both seniors in the arts stream.

“Neither of my parents forced me to read. They set an example themselves, especially father used to read a lot, and I was bred in the company of many scholars and professors.”

Even today Nayanajith’s bag is brimmed with books. He hardly has time for idle talk. If not in the department, he will be seen in library either reading or immersed in writing.

Nayanajith joined Lake House first for Navayugaya, which was then under the editorship of Ajantha Ranasinghe. The senior lyricist and journalist led his young counterpart to compile brief notes on legends such as Amaradeva and Nanda Malini, widening Nayanajith’s exposure.

“I went to both Nalanda and Ananda, but it was Ananda that was the impetus behind my writing career. I cannot forget my days at Creative Writers’ Circle. There were two teachers, Malini Vithanage and Paba Weerawarnakula, who guided me. I did not take up Vithanage’s subject, geography, but she knew my creative capacity and encouraged me in writing.”

Nayanajith won the award for best prose and best poetry in 1993 and 1994. He recollected the inspiring days under his teacher Reggie Ranatunga, who constantly encouraged him to write a book.

“Film Encyclopedia has the details of every Hollywood film. This made me wonder why we cannot compile a similar book for local cinema. The book fascinated me, and led me to collect data of local cinema.”

Hence came Sinhala Cinemave Vansa Kathava, an encyclopedia of Sinhala Cinema, as a result of a 19-year effort, though his maiden publication talks about sex trends in modern Sinhala cinema, and the second publication is a critical study of Gamini Fonseka, which is the pioneering and most detailed biography so far.

The encyclopedia is ranked third in his publication list, which is followed by a compilation of Lester James Peries’ cinema essays. Lester, according to Nayanajith, is the pioneering Sri Lankan to write cinema essays in English.

Nayanajith’s latest book Gaddarika Pravahaya hevath Sookiri Batillange Lokaya is titled as ‘Undiscerning’ in English. Discerning gives the dictionary meaning of ‘having good judgment’. Gaddarika Pravahaya is a term borrowed from one of oriental script, and denotes the culture-wise incapability of making good judgment in the aftermath of the open economy.

“Introduction of the open economy made a crystal clear difference in our lives. It made us, the ‘70s generation, become the road kill. We did not have a specific aim, and we embraced everything with hardly any thought. Now we are not familiar with our own traditions and identity in the face of globalisation.”

“Hippie and similar cultures belong to European countries. This is not a problem of good or bad, but we have borrowed these cultural items and forgotten our own traditions. For example, our generation is concerned about English, but not about traditions. The pre-open economy society was well familiar with both English and vernacular traditions.”

Nayanajith has five examples to prove his theory: Martin Wickramasinghe, Ananda Kumaraswami, Munidasa Cumaratunga, Professors Senerath Paranavithana and Ediriweera Sarachchandra.

For instance, as Nuwan notes, the younger generation attempts to grasp post modernism, though we have been familiar with deep-down serious aspects ever since the establishment of Buddhism. This makes Nayanajith categorise the society into three levels: great, minor and popular culture.

Nuwan’s five books

“The great culture consists of folklore and related subjects. The average peasant had no formal education, but he made use of born talents. Then the minor culture consists of those who studied and sharpened their skills. This culture produces scholars like Martin Wickramasinghe, Gurulu Gomi and Prof Ediriweera Sarachchandra. Both these cultures did not go against the fundamentals of Buddhism.

1977 marks the inception of popular culture. Our exposure to the global spectrum becomes limitless, and we accept everything without any second thoughts. We have the tendency to get attracted to cheap things.

Privatisation in a new angle emerges, and the ethics are played down. Politics and business start playing a major role over arts.” Popular culture mainly belongs to Occident, and it is not the evolution of the minor culture. In fact a UNESCO report points out the bad effects of the open economy on cultures of third world countries.

Gaddarika Pravahaya has one whole chapter dedicated to late Maestro Premasiri Khemadasa. Nayanajith places Khemadasa among six pioneering Sri Lankan musicians: Ananda Samarakoon for pioneering traditional music, Sunil Santha for experimenting western music for the first time, W. D. Amaradeva for attempting to take the local traditional music to the international arena, Premasiri Khemadasa for experimenting both oriental and occidental music, Sarath Dasanayaka for trying to establish an alternative film music devoid of any imitations, and Rohana Weerasinghe for gifting the traditional music to the offspring.

“I will probably do a research on lyrics for my PhD because it has simply fascinated me.”

On the novel he is working on he says: “You will have to wait for some time; the plot still keeps roaming in my head.”

Picture by Saman Sri Wedage
 

Rukmani remembered

Sri Lanka’s yesteryear screen queen and nightingale, Daisy Rasamma Daniels alias Rukmani Devi’s 30th death anniversary falls today. She became the pioneering actress of the Sinhala silver screen when she took up the lead role in the industry’s maiden talkie Kadawunu Poronduwa (Broken Promise), in which she also contributed in playback singing. From there she went on to portray the lead role in 98 movies in a career spanning three decades.

She was also a talented vocalist who sang many gramophone hits. It was after returning from a musical show in Matara that she met with a tragic accident on October 28, 1978. RJ

‘S.O.S’ at Bishop’s College

Elizabeth Moir School will stage an original musical called ‘S.O.S’ at Bishop’s College auditorium on October 31 and November 1.

The event features many genres of dance such as hip-hop, modern, jazz, ballroom and tap-dance. The songs range from old classics by the Beatles to the more modern Pussycat Dolls. ‘S.O.S’ is written and directed by Aida Mansoor. Sanjeev Jayaratnam, Natashan Jayasuriya and Erin-Rae Peterson makes up the team.

Lansi Kella to be launched

Saman Mahanama Dissanayake’s latest Sinhala novel Lansi Kella will be launched at Dayawansa Jayakody Book Exhibition Hall, Colombo 10 on October 28 at 10 a.m.

Dissanayake is a Sri Lankan novelist domiciled in Australia. He is the author of several other novels such as Duruthu Sihinaya, Bambarende Kangavena, Kangaru Nimnaya, Punchi Sir and Randenigala Walauwa. Lansi Kella is a Dayawansa Jayakody Book publication.

Lured by ancient & foreign lands

New look for Ganesh

Ruwini Jayawardana

 

The Ganesh garden décor that exhibits a devil from the back

Walking along Stratford Avenue (aka Gandhara Street), Colombo 6, is a joy for lovers of art, antiques and collectibles because the alley houses a whole collection of stores hosting such enthralling items. Hermitage (Pvt) Ltd recently joined the clan as the gallery opened their second branch. Named ‘Hermitage Deka’ (‘two’ in Sinhala), the 2500-square-feet space houses a range of handicrafts, paintings, lamps, furniture and many more items which reflects different epochs of ancient and tribal culture.

According to Safiya Husain and Yasmin Akbarally, the founders of ‘Hermitage’, Dian Gomez, owner of Gandhara, had invited them to join the queue. Husain and Akbarally had discussed the matter in detail and had decided to take up the offer.

“We hope to start a new array of collectible and unexpectables at ‘Hermitage Deka’. We have a collection of lamps which we hope will soon become the rage among our customers,” Safiya said.

Indeed the store comprises close to 2,000 pieces and around 60 of these are a variety of lamps. One is a Balinese funeral procession, carved out of wood and imported from Indonesia.

150 years old kerosene fan from South India	Indonesian Azmath statue designed as a CD holder

Image of Saraswathi made out of wood

Two figures resembling Indian guards stand at the doorway. They are traditional Rajputan soldiers who used to guard the palace entrance and are always imported in pairs, much like the Indonesian Loro Blonyo (Loro two or a couple while Blonyo means to be made over through bathing and make up) and the Wedding couples which come formally dressed in wedding attire.

Around 15 paintings by local artist Amal, who hails from Matara, are also on exhibit. Several chicken and duck puppets along with decorative umbrellas add an interesting aura to visitors. The gallery also has a large variety of cupboards and boxes, some which are 100 per cent reproductions.

Decorations of Indian mythical figures adorn the surfaces. Standing tall and proud in the middle of the store is an old Indian temple elephant, at least 150 years old and made out of wood. Then there is an Indonesian Azmath statue made out of wood and designed as a CD holder. A modern touch to the old!

“We have items to add a difference to your home. Those who are on the brink of building a home too visit us to buy our doors and windows with unique carvings,” Safiya expressed adding that old furniture are the most demanding items. One of the new pieces added to the collection is a 150-year-old kerosene lamp imported from south India. There are also some colourful Ganesh statues, carved out of stone and in a carefree posture.

“That is the new look for Ganesh. These figures are mostly kept at homes to ward off evil,” Yasmin explained, displaying a seated Ganesh outdoor décor with Ganesh’s image at the front and a devil’s image at the back.

Balinese funeral procession made into a lamp	Old Indian temple elephant made of wood	Rajputan guards

“We hope to add a range of hand-woven fabrics to the gallery. The tsunami-affected women from the Eastern coast weave these fabrics. All the profit made from selling these clothes will go to them,” Safiya added, also stating that they hope to add some items from the Middle East to their collection.

‘Hermitage Deka’ will officially open to the public on October 30 at 6.30 p.m. If you are intrigued to wander among Gargoyles, Garudas, Geckos, Goldfish and other mythical figures, do stop by to have a peek at the wonders of artefacts and collectibles at the gallery.