‘Colombo Artists?’

take centre stage:

Art always breaks barriers and speaks across boundaries. Proving the correct point of this age old slogan, Gandhara, the eclectic art house and craft store in Kirulapone opened its doors to a collection of creations from the ‘Colombo Artists?’ Six dynamic artists, namely Chaminda Gamage, T.P.G. Amjarajeewa, K.D. Lakshman, Upul Chamila Bandara, Susil Gunasiri Dixon and Anurasha Henakaarachchi, representing ‘Colombo Artists?’, are permanently featuring their creations at the gallery.

The ‘Colombo Artists?’ comprises a group of talented individuals driven by the thirst to showcase their creations and share diverse views on art. It is more of a forum for artists to congregate and share views, thoughts and ideas.

Competition

Constantly searching for a place sans competition, rat race or the striving quality to our run others, they seek to explore and unravel secrets wound tight in the corners of the imagination.

Operating in the field of visual art, the ‘Colombo Artists?’ noted the change of the public disinterest and lack of sufficient gallery space when Gandhara agreed took up their offer in exhibiting a some of the creations of their fellow artists.

Painting, sculptures, installations and mixed medium art works of six of the artists belonging to the group joined Gandhara’s exquisite collection, encouraging and raising hope in many talented youngsters in the clique who are waiting for the breakthrough to unfold their work before the public.

Unique

Each of the artists’ work chosen for Gandhara’s collection is unique but all make for fascinating viewing. A majority of T.P.G. Amarajeewa’s works depict crows: in cages and feeding on hearts. These images raise a multitude of questions and emotions within the viewers. Chaminda Gamage paints around the theme of light which he interprets in different ways as could be noticed in his enigmatic paintings.

Light

According to him light could be social status, education, popularity or even something entirely different from these aspects. The paintings are deceptively attractive from a distance but close up, they reveal another story.

K.D. Lakshman, who recently joined the ‘Colombo Artists?’ scene, is an architect by training. His art, titled ‘Acid Rain’, examines the role of rain in the past and present period. Rain was noted as a sign of prosperity in the past but today it could well mean an omen of disaster.

Inspiration

‘Market’ has been a source of inspiration for Upul Chamila Bandara for some years. The oil on canvas titled ‘Madonna the Apsara’ is the latest addition in his series displaying the dreams of the consumer in a whimsical manner.

Susil Dixon’s painting highlights reflected lines, colours as well as the depth of contrast. The untitled acrylic on canvas embodies the hidden fact that artists do not enjoy being categorized in one direction. Though seemingly simple and straightforward, his work focuses the viewers on a novel direction.

Anuradha Henakaarachchi’s installation made out of iron, copper plate, cement, brass and copper piping leaves you with a feeling that the product has a strong link to your life. You can almost hear the war planes move in his creation for it portrays a bullet shaped basic figure.

PR

Ithin Eeta Passe passes the 100th landmark

Ruwini Jayawardana

Popular teledrama, Ithin Eeta Passe which is based on Balangoda Sarath Madhu’s well loved picture story in the 1970s, lapsed 100 episodes recently. The Kelum-Dedunu romance effectively brought to life by the talented young duo, Sampath Kumaratunge and Umayangana Wickramasinghe, received a lot of audience applause.

Ithin Eeta Passe the tele series flows along with the story and had captured hearts because it had painted a portrayal of the story meeting up to the audience’s expectations.

What more it does not follow the traditional flow of lengthy dramas but takes up the episodes which were originally included in the picture story by the renowned artist.

Gihan Fernando, Sarath Wimalasiri, W. Jayasiri, Chandika Nanayakkara, Avanthi Aponsu, Nadeesha Alahapperuma, Anula Bulathsinhala, Susila Kottege, Udayangani Saman Kumari, Ayomi Shanika, Janith Wickramage, Shan Bandu Weerasinghe, Dharmapriya Dias, Somasiri Kolambage, Alfred Perera, Sarath Kothalawala, Priyantha Lalith and Douglas Jayasinghe make up the cast for Ithin Eeta Passe.

The teledrama is directed by Chandika Vijesena while Sandun Rajakaruna handles the production coordination. Manjula Prasanga Karunaratne is the assistant director. The production executives are Lalith Wasantha, Channa Jayanath and Neel Rukman. Thanuja Dhammika handles the camera, Nishantha Priyadharshana the editing, Chamikara Bokaragoda the art direction and Naradha Dhananji Thotagamuwa the make up department.

The production manager is Madhuranga Jagoda and Lakshman Pushpakumara supervises the creative angle of the teledrama. Shantha Jayalath Tisera is the music director while vocalists Uresha Ravihari, Chamika Sirimanna and Ajith Ariyaratne sing lyrics penned by Lalith Wasantha.

Ithin Eeta Passe is produced by Deshamanya Upul Jayasinghe on behalf of the Nilwala Video Team and ITN.

Sri Lankan artistes in ‘Dream Hotel’

Its lights, camera, action, for Sri Lanka as it stars in the popular German television series ‘Dream Hotel’.

The 90 minute TV series tells a story about unusual, elegant, and spectacular locations around the world, focusing mainly on the positive aspects of each country, its highlights, traditional features, and exceptional qualities. With the involvement, of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), Sri Lanka was selected as a location in March 2008, and the tele film is expected to be viewed by millions of people from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, to name a few.

Sites in Kandy, Polonnaruwa, Nuwara Eliya, Colombo, and Galle will be featured in the series that will be telecast in 2010 in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to an audience of over 12 million viewers.

“Sri Lanka has so much to offer the world and this television series promises to take that message across to potential travellers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland”.

This initiative also signifies the innovative and cost effective initiatives adopted by Sri Lanka Tourism to promote the island internationally,” stated Bernard Goonetilleke, the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

Lisa Film, the Austrian based producer of Dream Hotel specializes in the production of non-violent feature films, TV movies, and TV series.

Each year two countries are selected to be featured in the ‘Dream Hotel’ production with previous locations including Seychelles, Mauritius, Bali, Mexico, South Africa, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, India, and the Dominican Republic. Lately, it has been voted as the most popular television series in Germany. “We have selected Sri Lanka after a lengthy process. We are extremely happy of our decision and this is indeed a beautiful country.

On screen, it lends itself to be wonderfully photogenic and suits our theme, perfectly. The beauty of this country should be exposed to our extensive viewership and we are happy to do that for this island,” said the director of the tele-film, Otto W Retzer.

Lisa Film will be working with the local film crew of The Film Team (Pvt) Ltd, headed by Ravindra Randeniya, the veteran Sri Lankan film personality, and supported by Errol Kelly, the Art Director on this production who was instrumental in designing and building all sets of the Deepa Mehta’s movie ‘Water’ filmed in Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the venture, Randeniya stated, “The Film Team has always been associated with professionalism and commitment, and has been commended for our high production values. The ‘Dream Hotel’ project is a personification of these values and we are elated to be associated with the production”.

Meanwhile, the world focuses on Sri Lanka this week, as it is selected as the “Location of the Week” on the location guide website - a resource website for location filming worldwide.

The Home Page of this site is a working still of the Nestea TV Commercial handled by The Film Team and filmed in Talawakelle. The product was specially launched by Nestea Taiwan, at the Beijing Olympics, and the bottle has a graphic of our island. Furthermore, the product is daubed as the ‘Tea of the World’. The link to the website is:

http://www.thelocationguide.com/

Sri Lanka Tourism

press release

‘Empty Space - Chair Taken’ Sinhala version

‘A man is sitting on a chair. He stays sitting and does not stand up. All his friends leave him because he does not want to say why he is sitting there. Then Paula comes along. She does not want to know why he is sitting there. She wants him to stand up and become her adventure.

Horst Hewmann does not make it easy for his figures. He and She in the play “Empty space - chair taken” to get to know each other and become friends. Should they take courage or should they let things go on as they are? Should they try, even if they could take a fall? Important questions are posed in a manner both comical and playful. Something for actors who want shows everything they are capable of to lick their fingers.’

Horst Hawemann’s stage play ‘Empty Space - Chair Taken’ had been translated into Sinhala by P.J.S.Gomes as His Avakasayae Putuwa Arang. The drama is directed by well known stage dramatist, M. Safeer and will be presented to the public at the Goethe Hall, German Cultural Centre on February 28 and March 13 and 14 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The play will also be shown in Nuwara Eliya on April 4.

Tickets for the event are available free of charge at the Goethe Institute.

Safeway's ‘Gift to the Nation’

Ruwini Jayawardana

Popular vocalist of Baaloli Baale fame K. Sujeewa launched her newest CD Rata Wenuwen Puthu (Gift to the Nation) recently.

The album comprises 10 tracks featuring some of the country’s well loved female vocalists like Amila Nadeeshani, Anjali and Supriya Amarasekara.

It is dedicated to the mothers of soldiers who has sacrificed their life on behalf of their country.

The funds of the CD sales will be divided among 20 mothers of war heroes who had died at the battle field.

These women who had given birth to courageous sons had been hand picked by the Sevavanitha Unit. In addition to the album, a chain of concerts, both on local soil and international spheres, will also be held to raise funds.

Magam Soli wins Dayawansa Jayakody Award

Sumith Nanayakkara of Pulasthigama, Polonnaruwa has won the prestigious Dayawansa Jayakody Award. The manuscript was picked from among 152 entries sent in for the competition for the best novel.

The winner received a cash award of Rs.50,000 in addition to the award and the certificate.

The competition was launched to encourage Sinhala novelists to produce quality novels and to introduce talented local novelists to Sri Lankan readers.

The cash award for the current year’s competition has been increased to Rs.100,000.

[Book launch]

Narthana Chinthanayae Nonimi Chalana

Renowned dance critic Manubandu Vidyapathi’s latest translation Narthana Chinthanayae Nonimi Chalana was launched at the Mahawali Centre, Colombo, recently. Dr. Sunil Wijesiriwardena and popular actor Saumya Liyanage made took part and made speeches. The book contains essays scripted by Michel Forkin, Isadora Duncan, Marie Wigman, Eriq Hawkins, Anna Kisselgorf, Deborah Jovin and Jon Martin.

Kulagei Vilanguva

Thilaka Kudahetti’s latest Sinhala novel Kulagei Vilanguva will be launched at Dayawansa Jayakody Book Exhibition Hall, Colombo 10 on February 24 at 10 a.m.

Kudahetti is the author of many other works such as Nethata Andunak Se, Vathsunu Pavatha, Durga Tharanaya, Neela Daesa Pura, Sansara Bandana, Vathura, Bharatha Yogin Saha Isivarayin Samaga, Piramida Bhuthayin Egiptu Sannasin, Ha Manthrakaruvan Samaga, Avul Haraya and Anthasarrayo. The book is a Dayawansa Jayakody Book Publication.