Art & Soul

‘Schindler’s List’ Tracing the roots

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It’s the story of Oskar Schindler, an Aryan who bucked the trend to protect Jews in Nazi occupied Poland, who continually outwitted the SS and who turned out to be an angel of mercy following the war. Schindler is a flamboyant German industrialist who grew into a living legend to the Jews of Krakow. He was a womaniser and heavy drinker who enjoyed the good life, yet to them he became a saviour. It is an unforgettable tale, all the more extraordinary for being true.

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Elitist writers at the Galle Literary Festival (GLF) have one ‘golden rule’: no interviews for journalists without homework. Thomas Keneally was GLF’s 2009 chief guest, though things went smoother than I could imagine.

I could make way to Tom with the ‘no homework’ confession, because he was in a beaming smile to welcome someone with a vacant mind - at last! The Sydney-born Nobel and Booker laureate hence enjoyed an audience with no butt-in.

The sunset in Galle Fortress lifted Keneally’s spirits to start on his Booker prize winning ‘Schindler’s List’, which was earlier published as ‘Schindler’s Ark’.

Survivor

“In 1980 I was in a luggage store waiting for my flight. Over small talk, I found out its owner is a Schindler survivor. I wasn’t familiar with this name, but Leopold Pfefferberg, the Schindler survivor, revealed some important information about himself.

Inch by inch I took in Oskar Schindler who is famous to have outfoxed the Nazi operation in Poland. I had already made a name as a writer by then, and that was enough for Pfefferberg. Our next meet up was the journey to Poland to unearth more on Schindler.”

Most of his works are fiction except for ‘Schindler’s List’ (1982) and ‘Searching for Schindler’ (2007), he admitted. Both Schindler and Pfefferberg are alive in 1989’s, and the 2007’s ploughs on with the Keneally-Pfefferberg odyssey in search of Schindler’s list. The novel on Oskar Schindler earned Steven Spielberg his first Oscar award for being the Best Director as well as the Man Booker Prize for Thomas Keneally.

Fortune

People in numbers ask for Tom’s favourite piece of work. For him Schindler’s raked in the fortune, but ‘Towards Asmara’, a novel on conflict of Eritrea, is at the top of his list though it was not as successful as Schindler’s.

“Enough of Schindler’s. Now tell me what do you think about famines?”

I had hardly any time to hazard a guess. I remained silent because I was eagerly anticipating his version. Tom took the hint.

“What I believe on famines that they are neither natural nor god made, but man made. Politicians need to create them, so they can have all the benefits to themselves.” What an interpretation! He goes on, “Well, we have exceptions like Tsunami in your country, which are, of course, natural disasters.”

Famine

“I have seen many famines myself including Ethiopian famine. You see, I was born with the World War - Australia was never invaded, thank God. But I am familiar with war, pain and how people put up with the wretchedness of famines.

“War and famines are both man-made. Politicians hold all the aces and innocents go through the mill.” Suddenly he shifts the subject into family.

“I love studying families. I have seen families in Bengal, Ireland and Ethiopia in particular. I have written novels on those families. I fancy seeing them as one entity.”

The subject of family tempted Tom to focus on his own.

“My father was a good storyteller, but he was easily depressed. In my early childhood I wanted to be a priest, but soon I lost interest when I got disillusioned with the religious system.

I took up studies of law, and that was when I started writing my first novel. I was a schoolteacher and university lecturer for sometime until my work carved out my destiny.” Love stepped into Keneally’s life when his mother was in sickbed. He felt the difference when he saw Judy who nursed his mother. Finally - like every fairytale has to offer at the end - Thomas Keneally, the young novelist was united in matrimony with the beautiful young Judy.

Literature

“Life is like literature. It’s full of events. Speaking of which I must say something about your literary festival. Literary festivals are essential for countries like Australia

 and Sri Lanka. Australia is a country located a little close to Sri Lanka but we gets to know about Sri Lanka through festivals held in either London or New York. When Sri Lanka has a literary festival we can have direct contacts,” he noted.

Films

Keneally has a flair for performance as well. Some of his films are ‘The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith’ (based on his novel), ‘Fred Schepisi’ and ‘The Devil’s Playground (1976)’ - not to be confused with a documentary about the Amish rite of passage which carried the same title.

He is made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) which is considered an Australian Living Treasure.

“I am a strong advocate of the Australian republic, meaning the severing of all ties with the British monarchy, and published a book on the subject Our Republic in 1993. Several of his Republican essays appear on the web site of the Australian Republican Movement.”

Cricket is a pet subject he toyed with while posing for the camera. Eve has worn on to say good bye to Tom. Memories of his crisp voice with occasional laughter hang over, none the less.

Sing-along with Annesley

After a very successful 31st night family party Palm Beach Hotel will team up again with popular vocalist Annesley Malawana for yet another family event titled ‘Sing-along with Annesley. The light evening of entertainment will take place on February 28 starting from 7 p.m. and will take place at the poolside of the Palm Beach Hotel.

The event will feature Annesley accompanied by his popular band the ‘Super Chimes’. Well loved hits from the 60s and 70s of the Moon Stones and the Super Golden Chimes will be a treat to music lovers and Annesley will undertake the task of engaging the guests to sing along with him.

The Super Chimes comprising Channa Athalagay on lead guitar, Prasah Fernando on base, Delip Fernando on keyboards and Asha Fernando on drums, will also sing Sinhala as well as English hits of the past.

Food from the western cuisine as well as Sri Lankan dishes will be available. Kids will be able to spend a fun-packed evening with a whole variety of games to choose from. For further details contact Nurudha on 011 2712713.

Art gallery with Semage identity

R. S. Karunaratne

Private art galleries are common sight in the developed world. Well-known artists have put up their own galleries which are open even on holidays to cater to the art loving public. These galleries are very popular among art connoisseurs because of their accessibility and homeliness.

Private art galleries have a special attraction to the viewer as they are more user-friendly. These galleries can be seen in Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, France, Italy, Germany and other developed countries.

At some of these galleries it is mandatory for the viewer to view certain creations from a distance. Visitors are not allowed to take photographs or touch the exhibits on display. Public art galleries, on the other hand, are open on specific days and they open only when there is an exhibition.

Sri Lanka cannot boast of private art galleries except for a few that operate at the initiative of dedicated artists. One of these is Semage’s Art Gallery at No. 3 Lilian Avenue, Station Road, Mount Lavinia.

Situated in a highly residential area, the gallery is a welcome destination for both local and foreign art lovers. As the artist is well known in Sri Lanka and abroad, the art gallery is always full of visitors.

Jayasiri Semage, who shot up to the prominence from a humble newspaper illustrator to veteran painter has made it a point to display most of his acrylic, water colour, and oil on canvas paintings at the gallery.

Some of the visitors to the art gallery are Sri Lankans working abroad. They invariably visit the gallery to purchase their favourite painter’s art works to be taken back to the countries where they work. What is so special about Semage’s paintings is that they have the unmistakable Sri Lankan identity. On their next trip to Sri Lanka they do not forget to bring another Sri Lankan or a foreigner to show the grandeur of our art.

Most of these Sri Lankans buy Semage’s paintings as they remind of their country’s heritage. They appreciate how Semage has done his paintings showing the country’s cultural heritage inappropriate colour combinations and dexterous brush strokes. Their candid views can be seen in the visitors’ book kept at the Semage Gallery.

Semage’s Art Gallery is unique in that it is open throughout the year, including the government and mercantile holidays. The original paintings sold out are immediately replaced by new creations. Even the display of his paintings has its own identity.

Although Semage Gallery is located in a highly residential area, the gallery itself is calm and quiet. Many visitors can be seen spending hours on end viewing the paintings as if they are meditating.

In addition to the regular visitors, many schoolchildren can be seen frequenting the gallery as no entrance fee is charged.

Jayasiri Semage attributes his success to his style he has developed over the years. His unique style has attracted many art lovers to the gallery. A few months ago Semage held one of his solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Japan. He has been invited by another Japanese art lover to hold an exhibition in his country.

He has also exhibited his paintings in many countries around the world such as Nepal, Switzerland, Sweden, Thailand, Malaysia and Finland. One of his paintings is on permanent display at the United Nations Hall in Geneva. Those paintings exhibited in other countries can also be viewed at this gallery.

What is remarkable is that Semage creates all his paintings in his gallery. He also holds his art classes there on a regular basis. As a result, many people visit the gallery to see for themselves how an artist finishes his product.

“You can learn a lot by viewing how an artist uses his brush than sitting in an art class. You will find it a new experience to see how the artist uses his brush, mix colours, and gives life to his artwork,” said Jayasiri Semage turning to give the finishing touches to one of his latest paintings.

B n S introduces ‘Shaheena’

Lux, Unilever Sri Lanka’s flagship beauty and skin care brand, has now teamed up with Sri Lanka’s accomplished musical duo Bhathiya and Santhush (BnS) in a tie up, to launch and promote BnS’s latest album, ‘Shaheena’, thereby foraying into the music arena and appealing to a youth destination.

Shaheena contains the spirit of all our work in the past six to eight months explained Bhathiya, who together with Santhush can count over 350 live performances, globally, in the past 5 years alone. The album contains such hit singles as the lead track of the movie soundtrack ‘Asai Mang Piyambanna’, and soundtracks from the latest movie ‘Feel My Love’ (Adare Namayen), all of which are BNS originals. Happy to be tied up with Lux on this album, Bhathiya says he hopes more brands will extend themselves in promoting the production of Sri Lankan New Age music.

Lux’s Brand Manager, Shanika Jayawardena was upbeat about the Brand’s foray into the music scenario, saying that Lux has been making path breaking waves since 1931.

New album by Ariyasinghe

Ruwini Jayawardana

Popular vocalist W.D. Ariyasinghe who gifted local music fans with many well loved tunes like Prema Ganthirae, Kolomthota and Sanda Naganathura launched his latest album, Adambari recently.

The album contains 12 tracks with music composed, recorded, mixed and mastered by Chathurangana de Silva and Amila Dilhan. Adambari which features songs like Thavalama, Adambari, Ruwathi Mala, Nethu Sangalae, Obatamai and many more , also includes duets with Nelu Adikari and Amila Dilhan.

Hailing from picturesque location of Udunuwara of the hill country, Ariyasinghe had schooled at Udunuwara Lankathileke Maha Vidyalaya and Pilimathalawa Mada Maha Vidyalaya.

He chose to pursue music at an early age and was chosen to study the art at University of Kelaniya where he was trained under stalwarts like Lionel Edirisinghe, P.B. Makuloluwa and R.A. Chandrasena.

His first song was penned by veteran lyricist Donald de Alwis. He served as a singer at the Sarala Gee programs conducted by SLBC and before long had a huge fan base devoted to his tunes. His newest collection of songs embodies the changes in the music industry. He had made full use of young talent from his music composers to new technological methods.

Adambari which is packed with a number of moving tunes is upcoming vocalist Sangeeth Wijesuriya’s maiden production under Saa Productions (Pvt) Ltd.