Skills on show

Visithru handicrafts exhibition at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery;

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Art and craft have always been a means of reflecting culture and beauty of a nation to the public. As years flow by more and more enthralling creations embodying diverse talents and signifying the multitude cultural heritage of the land join the scene and gain immense popularity not only in the local arena but also in international regions.

This undying wave of popularity for handmade products had motivated National Crafts Council (NCC) together with the Ministry of Rural Industries and Self-employment to hold Visithru, a group exhibition of handicrafts at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from March 13 to 15 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fourteen professional handicrafts artistes will showcase their creations at the exhibition which is sponsored by Lankaputhra Development Bank.

A host of hereditary handicraft products: wooden masks, wood carvings, Dumbara - Hana mats, pottery, ceramic and terracotta items, lacquer ware, creations made out of eco-friendly handmade paper, reed and rush, lace work, brass and silver items and products made out of Palmyra will be on display at Visithru.

The opening ceremony will be held on March 12 at 4 p.m. in the presence of French Ambassador to Sri Lanka Michael Lummaux, Minister of Rural Industries and Self-employment Promotion S. B. Nawinna, Minister of Rural Industries Premalal Jayasekara. Visithru will be open to the public from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. after the opening ceremony.

All the products selected for display in Visithru preserve the techniques of the ancient art form which had been handed down from our ancestors and reflect the grandeur of the nation’s rich cultural links rooting from the bygone era. The items have been chosen carefully so that they will cater to the needs of the modern world as well as maintaining the pristine beauty of the product.

“The artistes strive to introduce new and unique creations to meet up to the demands of the collectors. This opportunity will give them an added boost to augment their standard of living,” Chairman of the NCC Buddhi Keerthisena commented.

Exquisite handicraft items on display

Wooden Masks

Sanath Nandasiri of Weliweriya will showcase some colourful and dramatic wooden masks from a range of sizes. These wooden wonders emerge from the Southern Province of the country and were originally used in demon propitiation as well as in creative rituals, a practice which is found in the past as well as in some rural areas of the isle even today.

Palmyrah products

Hailing from the dry zone of Sri Lankan and growing up to height of 30 meters, the Palmyrah is an ancient palm tree belonging to the palmae family which is also dubbed the tree of life. Found mainly in the Northern, Eastern and some part of the Southern province like Hambantota, the Palmyrah had provided shelter, food and a means of generating income for the public. A wide range of mats, baskets, table mats, boxes, hats, creative décor and household items will be exhibited by A. Siththi Sanoba of Kalpitiya at Visithru, reviving the age old traditional handicrafts to the present.

Dumbara mats

Emerging from the Dumbara valley of the Kandyan highlands, Hana weaving has been a local based form of art for centuries. The base fiber of the creations which is obtained from the Niyanda plant is then carefully woven into distinctive age old designs to comprise mats, bags, room dividers, screens, wall hangings, table mats, cushion covers and many more items. Both H. G. Piyadasa from Manikhinna and Asoka Padmasiri from Uda Dumbara will display a collection of their work at the exhibition.

Laksha

Traditionally obtained from insect resins from forests, the lacquer pigments is another product which derives form the Kandyan landscapes. The boiled down liquid is then applied with a revolving lathe or finger-nails to walking sticks, book ends, ashtrays, letter openers, wooden handles, boxes and furniture items. D.K.G.K. Sanjeewa from Matale will display a host of lacquer ware at Visithru.

Products out of eco-friendly handmade paper

Maneesha Hiran Samarasinghe from Nugegoda had manufactured a wide range of paper and boards in diverse shades and textures to transform into stationary, lighting lamps and lanterns, eco-packaging cards boxes, bags, photograph albums and frames. Post consumer waste paper is used along with leaves from indigenous shrubs, rice husks straw, refuse tea and underutilised natural fibers taken from coconut coir, banana and wild grass to add the finishing touches to the product.

Wood carvings

K. M. Austin Peries of Minuwangete will display a series of sculptured figures and carvings which will make ideal gifts or souvenirs. Wood is sculpted, carved and chiseled to take any form the imagination requires wood carving had come a long way taking dramatic twists and turns in the island’s creative scene.

It reflects not only the traditional crafts skills of the locals but also the theatrical and cultural values of the past age. These items add a touch of creativity and mystery to its dwelling and are among the most cherished possessions of many a household.

Reed and rush products

This form of handicrafts enables you to bring a hint of nature’s natural beauty to your home. The nimble finger of K. Somawathie of Manampitiya and H. A. Dissanayake of Thimbiriyagama have woven many items such as mats, bags, baskets, hats, boxes, lamp shades, table mats, furniture, kitchen and household items to add grace and beauty to the home.

The products handy quality of being easily portable gives the householder the opportunity to give a new look to the house as often as he or she pleases by purchasing a few reed products and exchanging them from time to time. Talipot (talkola), coconut and palmyrah leaves cane, bamboo and rattan (Bata and small bamboo) are used as material to create these items.

Lace work

B.W. Wickramasinghe of Galle had experimented with the age old tradition introduced by the Portuguese for many years before bringing out geometric patterns and sought after crochet items including table covers, doilies, collars and many others.

Handed down from mothers to their daughters and granddaughters, this delicate form of art had now become a fully fledged industry in the country. Working with needle and a crochet pattern, a single continuous thread is woven carefully through the needles until the pattern takes form before the maker’s eyes.

Brass and Silverware

The glittering brass forms moulded into shape by S. K. Wimalasiri and the shimmering silverware shaped by Padmasiri Munasinghe, both hailing from Madawala, oozes with charm.

Carved or molded this form of art can take any shape of form to make ornaments, jewellery pieces, tableware and utensils. It is sold at an affordable price and never ceases to lighten up a background while on display.

Pottery\Ceramic and Terracotta products

Craft persons G. Ajith Manjula from Handapangoda and Prabath Chandana Wijesinghe from Biyagama had included some of their handmade pottery, ceramic and terracotta items moulded out of lumps of clay into take shape of elegant creations. This primitive technique of clay modeling was extremely popular with the locals who preferred to accommodate the finely designed earthenware items for ceremonial, architectural and domestic purposes.

Though many forms of substitutes have joined the market, the art of pottery had not lost its grace and continues to frequent local households today.

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