Seneka's digital art
Seneka Abeyratne is a freelance economist/international consultant
with an MSc. from Cornell University and about 30 years of work
experience as a researcher/policy analyst. During his career he has
worked closely with several government institutions, including the
Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance. From 2000 to 2003
he served as CEO of the National Agribusiness Council, and from 2004 to
2006, as Director of Economic Affairs at the Peace Secretariat. He has
during the current decade undertaken numerous, high-level policy
assignments/studies for the Asian Development Bank (Manila).
Minimalist
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Seneka Abeyratne |
Abeyratne is also an award-winning playwright who likes to explore
complex political, social and psychological themes. Most of his plays
are stark, minimalist and unconventional, and they view life through a
blurred or distorted lens. Psychosexual drama is his forte and he likes
disturb the audience through the use of graphic linguistic and visual
imagery. His published works include "Three Star K" (Gratiaen Prize
2006), "Mad People" (Shortlist, Gratiaen Prize 2005), and "Midnight
Train", an absurd play which won the prize for best drama script awarded
by the English Association of Sri Lanka, in 1995. His first published
work was a novel titled "Fragments of a Fugue", which was shortlisted
for the Gratiaen Prize in 1993. Two of his published plays ("Por la
Libertad" and "Midnight Train") were performed at the Closenberg Hotel
as part of the 2009 Galle Literary (Fringe) Festival. "Midnight Train"
was also performed in French at the Alliance Francaise (AF) in 2008. Of
the 12 plays he has written to date, 10 have been performed in Sri Lanka
at various venues including the British Council, the Barefoot Garden
Café, and the Lionel Wendt. Two of his plays have also been performed by
the Madras Players in India.
In 2008 he published two books titled "Three Star K" (drama) and
"Facets of Wewala". The latter is Sri Lanka's first village photography
book, with over 130 B&W images and around 15 pages of text.
In recent years Abeyratne has also gained recognition as a
photographer and digital artist. In 2008 he also held his first digital
art exhibition ("Images of Bouzigues") at the AF, jointly sponsored by
the French Embassy and the AF.
Honor
There were 36 images and these will also be displayed at Musee
L'Etang de Thau in Bouzigues from August 3rd to 28th this year. This is
quite an honor as it is the first time a Sri Lankan will be holding a
solo digital art exhibition in Europe. Bouzigues, a famous fishing
village, is situated in Languedoc Roussillons - a region of southern
France, on the Mediterranean coast, extending from the Rhone delta to
the border with Spain. It is noted for its beautiful vineyards and
landscapes and ancient architecture. The exhibition was arranged with
the assistance of several agencies, including the French Embassy,
Alliance Francaise, Sri Lankan Airlines, and Communauté de Communes Nord
du Bassin de Thau.
Transcendental
In the artist's own words: "I love Bouzigues, for it is dotted with
beautiful landscapes and buildings that give it a serene ambience. The
light has a special quality because it is clear and bright and the
lagoon looks surreal when the moonlight falls on it.
This exhibition is the outcome of that unforgettable, transcendental
experience, which one might call a fleeting encounter with the
Infinite."
Abeyratne also likes to dance and is a member of the Deanna School of
Dancing. He has performed in many full-length ballets staged by the
Deanna School over the past ten years, including "The Nutcracker", "La
Bayadere", and "Sleeping Beauty".
Seneka has been holding his digital art exhibition at the Museum of
"'ETANG DE THAU" in BOUZIGUES, South of France from August 3 and will go
on till August 28 from 10 a.m to 12.30 p.m. and from 2.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. |
