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Pers’s passion for art
A new gallery in memory of Dr. Ian Goonetileke is to house 120 works of George Keyt among its exhibits, but the project’s completion hinges on adequate funds

By Kesara Ratnatunga
Sir Ivor Jennings - that most visionary academic - in his grand plan for a seat of learning on the picturesque banks of the Mahaweli high up in the hills of Kandy dreamed of a gallery to house and exhibit Sri Lanka's finest works of art. Sadly that dream was not to be fulfilled during his lifetime or during the 60-year existence of his brainchild, the University of Peradeniya.

Now, thanks to the munificent gift of a former Peradeniya don, the fire has been rekindled and the first stone laid for the Ian and Roslin Goonetileke Gallery and Museum of Contemporary Art of the University of Peradeniya.

Dr. Ian Goonetileke stood at the helm of the Peradeniya library at a time when drastic changes were afoot in the campus and the entire university system was shedding the shackles of colonialism and entering into what many would term 'its golden age'. Fifteen years on, on his 75th birthday, Peradeniya was gifted his entire collection of art, books and manuscripts which included no less than 120 George Keyts and more than 40 other canvases.

This donation made six years ago served as the stimulus to revive the idea of an art gallery in the University of Peradeniya. The Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya (AAUP) took it upon itself to make this a reality. Supported by Vice Chancellor Prof. Kapila Goonasekara, Tissa Jayathilake and Prof. K.N.O Dharmadasa, the AAUP headed by Prof. Ashley Halpe has been busy raising funds for the project.

Designed by eminent Sri Lankan architect Ashley de Vos, the complex will comprise three galleries, an art museum and library, a lecture theatre and a visitors' lounge with a coffee shop. "As I remember him, Ian was a shy man and you could easily lose him amongst his books. I mean one would have to go looking for the man," says Mr. de Vos.

A subdued - almost camouflaged - structure will meander amongst the trees of the forest behind Jayatileke Hall, he says explaining the concept of the building. "We have tried to capture his shy nature in the building."

Unlike the existing buildings of the university, the new complex will depict contemporary trends and be designed to blend with the lush surroundings. "You will almost have to go looking for it," he says.

Built on rock pillars, the complex will appear to float among the trees. In keeping with this idea, the galleries will be designed so that the paintings will hang from the centre of the room on movable panels while the walls will almost be entirely of glass allowing light to filter through the foliage and enter the room from all sides, making the visitor feel that he is among the trees.

Mr. de Vos explains that this is his way of giving something back to Dr. Goonetileke, the man he knew and associated with for many years. Prof. Halpe explains that the collection of Keyts will be the nucleus of the permanent exhibits, which will be supplemented by works of Claessen, Ivan Peries, Gabriel, Stanley Kirinde and others. The gallery will serve as an exhibit of contemporary Sri Lankan art. In addition, it is hoped that the gallery will become a venue for visiting exhibitions, both local and international, in the hill country- a long-felt need.

It is hoped that the complex will become a focal point of academic interest among the art circles of Sri Lanka. It will also serve as an excellent stimulus for the undergraduates reading for fine arts degrees and other members of the Peradeniya community with a passion for art. The complex will be open to the public as well, making it a superb addition to the rich cultural atmosphere of Kandy.

Fund-raising for the project began six years ago with Rs. 300,000 generated from the 50th anniversary celebrations of the university. This, however, was well short of the estimated cost. On Sunday, August 29, the fund was greatly augmented by a Rs. 2 million donation from Siripala Weerawardena, a Peradeniya alumnus and his family - a donation made possible by the untiring efforts of the the AAUP's Colombo chapter president C.W. Jayasekara.

Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama, and Central Province Governor Monty Gopallawa, both of whom are Peradeniya alumni, were also present at the ceremony. They pledged their full support and promised to help generate funds for the project.

So far, the project has attracted Rs. 3 million, which is enough to start construction on the first phase, which will include one gallery and an entrance, says Prof. Halpe. This first gallery, to be named the "Weerawardena Room", will house and exhibit the Ian Goonetileke collection which at the moment lies in storage at the university's main library. This stage is expected to be completed and operational in two years' time.

The construction of the subsequent stages of the project will be carried out, depending on the availability of financial resources, says Prof. Halpe. Thus, the AAUP has appealed to Peradeniya alumni both in Sri Lanka and abroad to give generously to this worthy cause that will benefit future student generations. To encourage donations, the AAUP proposes that parts of the building should be named after donors who make substantial contributions.

"...to nourish Peradeniya's starved thousands; rare editions, papers, letters from the great, a princely gift no prince had thought to make," says Prof. Halpe in his elegy for Dr. Goonetileke. It is only fitting that a man of the ilk of Dr. Goonetileke, who dedicated his life and contributed so richly to the academic and aesthetic fabric of the University of Peradeniya, be immortalized by his truly magnificent gift and the Gallery and Museum of Contemporary Art.

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