Sunday Times 2
Celebrating Sri Lankan contemporary art
View(s):Supporting the rich and expanding field of contemporary arts in Sri Lanka, Colomboscope 2014, celebrates contemporary literature, music , dance and theatre for the second consecutive year by bringing together writers, academics, cultural commentators, and performance artistes from Sri Lanka, Europe and the region.
Organised by the Goethe Institut, the British Council, and Alliance Francaise, in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, the title sponsor, Standard Chartered, Colomboscope will be held from January 31 to February 10.
Adopting an interdisciplinary approach to the Arts, Standard Chartered Colomboscope 2014shares the theme of ‘Making History’ with the Colombo Art Biennale allowing visitors to both events to enjoy topics related to history and remembrance from different angles, reflected by various art forms.
The three days of the Standard Chartered Colomboscope festival will take place in three different and unique locations in Colombo: Modera, the old centre(Pettah / Fort / Slave Island), and Cinnamon Gardens. Each site has been picked to provide a distinct and expressive experience for the audience.
The full programme includes performances, author readings, guided walks, talks and panel discussions. The confirmed artistes include Gob Squad (UK and German artistes making performances and videos which search for beauty in the everyday), Iraqi/German writer Abbas Khider, sociologist, Fatima Bhutto, a selected few of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists for 2013, writer Shyam Selvadurai, Mind Adventures Theatre Company performing ‘Paraya’, a specially choreographed performance for the festival by dancer Venuri Perera, and acclaimed musicians Musicmatters, form a selection of the featured artistes.
The talks, discussions and panels featuring some of the sharpest, intellects of local and international writers, historians, sociologists, artistes, architects and cultural commentators promises to be thought provoking and provocative with sessions covering topics such as lost, official and unofficial histories, social media and real time history making, lost female narratives and language and history.
The Standard Chartered Bank Colomboscope 2014 programme consists of ticketed and free events with concessions and discounts planned for students.