Behind the scenes of 'Ideators' - episode 8:
Breathing life into history
Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
Hemas Holdings group director Abbas Esufally briefs the
contestants at Hotel Sigiriya
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Be it a tourist or a traveler, no tour is complete if you have not
visited the splendours of Sigiriya during your stay in Sri Lanka. Dubbed
the eighth wonder of the world, this majestic rock standing tall in the
wilderness reflects the island's rich history.
Therefore it is no wonder that the British Council decided to feature
last week's 'Ideators' in this historic backdrop, Not only does it link
local resources and talent with the United Kingdom (UK) but it also
takes some of the island's inspiring cultural traditions and icons
before the world.
"Sigiriya rock was incredible! You Sri Lankans kept this little
treasure quiet! What made it so amazing was that it was completely
unexpected. We had no idea where we were going. We were just told to
pack our stuff and be prepared to do some walking and climbing. The
place was full of history and fascinating stories, not to mention the
technology that was so ahead of the time," an enthusiastic Adam unfurled
his thoughts about his climb to Daily News 'Punch.'
The contestants climb the rock |
Asked if he had visited a similar site before he notes, "I have
previously visited Neuschwanstein castle in Germany, which I would
consider to be the European equivalent. They were very similar in the
sense that they made use of the landscape and also in the demise of the
main figure, but also drastically different in the building types and
style." Adam's strong competitor Udana says that the episode signifies
the 'icon of Sri Lanka' as it is all about brining the elements of the
legendary rock into the creation. Since the groups were handed the tasks
of designing an eye-catching centre piece for Sigiriya hotel, some
serious research and thinking had to be done.
Reflex chose Northumbria University's Multidisciplinary Design
Innovation student Alex as their team leader. Fans might be able to
recall that the team triumphed in the previous woodcarving related task
under her leadership. Would she be able to steer her team to another
win? Not if Lion Heart has anything to do with it. Take it from Uva
Wellassa University's Udana who enjoyed spearheading the Lion Heart
team.
Team Reflex's product in the making |
Luke is inspired by the Sigiriya frescoes |
Team Lion Heart's final product |
A tour guide briefs Reflex about the importance of Sigirya |
"He was a great leader and had his own way of leading a team. He did
not pressurize us at any point. He maintained his cool attitude and gave
us freedom and encouraged us to go ahead with designs. He was always
alert, pointing out the loop holes that we made. One of his major
strengths is effective communication," Nimanthie shared her thoughts
about Udana's leadership skills. Anyone who had been following the 'Ideators'
episodes would know by now that it is not all work and no play when
Udana is around. He has the strategy to sound jovial and serious in on
breath. One minute he is immersed in examining the pros and cons of the
team's design and in the other instance he is gleefully showing Adam a
design of a monkey and noting the similarities between them. No doubt
the two's presence adds colour and drama to the show!
"It was a really good experience for me as a Lion Heart member as
well as the 'first time' group leader. I knew which areas that Luke and
Nimmie are strong in. I was really proud to lead the team in a land
where the identity of Sri Lankan art, culture and heritage is embedded
in. Walking with the guys up the eighth wonder of the world made me
proud," Udana recollected.
Queried about the Adam-Udana rivalry he was quick to respond with a,
"What else do I have to do! He is the only marketing competition for
me!"
However he adds, "We speak the same language in and out of the
competition so we tend to be so close and that leads us to make fun out
of each other. Why I call 'Reflex' 'Cornflex' is because when Adam
pronounces 'Reflex' it sounds exactly like 'Cornflex'!"
But when it comes to evaluating their handiwork and deciding on who
should be eliminated, I bet that even this spirited duo gets cold feet.
Adam owns up that since he has a tendency to be outspoken, he runs
the risk of being eliminated.
"I have often joked that I should reserve my seat in the boardroom,
as it is usually the person that generates the idea who ends up there!
However, I feel that it is a risky tactic for the judges to place blame
on the person that comes up with the idea as this may create an
atmosphere of not wanting to express your ideas. On the other hand, this
really does make you question the feasibility of your creations and
think through every aspect of the design," he said.
Though episode eight closed with yet another victory for Lion Heart,
Reflex was able to let out a sigh of relief as head judge and British
Council country director Tony Reilly announced that there will be no
elimination. However he did warn the competitors to sharpen their skills
as there will be a double elimination next week!
Moratuwa University's Nimanthie opines, "It surely is a scary thought
but I suppose that is the way the competition is. Having only three
members left in the team it would be disastrous to face a double
elimination. It will be an extremely competitive task. We cannot afford
to lose next week."
"I was quite relieved. It was a tough challenge, emotionally and
physically draining, so to be given that lifeline was a real boost.
Although, this begs the question - will there be a double elimination?"
Adam said while cracking a joke saying that unfortunately he forgot to
kiss the ground like cricketers do once they have wrapped up victory or
scored a century! Maybe next week, Adam.
Despite the pressures of competition, this episode was the favourite
for a majority of our contestants.
"This episode as a whole was an amazingly interesting one. I could
say it is my favourite so far. The most exciting part of it was climbing
Sigiriya. We had to take every little detail into our minds in spite of
the very short time we had to climb up and down the rock. The highlight
of the event was watching Luke. He was amazed at seeing the beauty and
technology of the historical rock. Just seeing how enchanted they were
made me so proud of being Sri Lankan," Nimanthie enthused.
Udana even managed to bond with the local craftsmen over a game of
carom.
"It is an unforgettable experience, further enhanced by securing
victory over Cornflex! I was enjoying the task so much because of the
dedication of my team members. I knew that we need to keep our cool as
well as the craftsmen," he smiled.
Next week's challenge is bank oriented. You can be sure that Adam and
Udana will be spot on in this episode. Do not miss the action on
Independence Television Network (ITN) next Saturday at 9 pm. |