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Where different cultures meet, learn and create
By Esther Williams
There was an air of excitement and anticipation. Artistes of various disciplines were meeting each other for the first time at the Sapumal Foundation last Saturday. They had gathered in Colombo before heading for Lunuganga for the Theertha International Artists' Workshop.

These artistes are here to question established ideas in the practice of art, share and learn from each other and create some collaborative art installations. Most of them are hoping for unexpected surprises.

This workshop is the second (the first was held in 2001) experimental art laboratory where all artistes work in a non-hierarchical situation. The exchange and transfer of knowledge, energy and skills among artistes and different art forms, the organizers hope, will be an intensely lived experience. The participants comprise eight Sri Lankans and six from Indonesia, Singapore, Pakistan, India, UK and Bangladesh.

At the late Geoffrey Bawa's estate, Lunuganga, they are being encouraged to use locally available material and respond to the site itself that is on the edge of a river, surrounded by lush trees, ponds and sprawling gardens in different layers.

Art students, artistes and critics will be invited to a dialogue on September 20 at the workshop site, while on September 22, the workshop artistes will participate in discussions at the Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts. The public will be able to take part in the open day at the VAFA Gallery, Ethul Kotte on September 23 at 7 p.m.

orkshop Coordinator Anoli Perera said every effort was made to include artistes from different disciplines for the workshop. Theertha Chairman Jagath Weerasinghe explains that fostering respect for cultural, linguistic, geopolitical, sexual and racial differences is the philosophical core of Theertha. The ethnic conflict in the country, its resulting violence and the political and social chaos have left a mark on all aspects of life including art.

It has influenced many artistes and is revealed in their art during the past two decades. Theertha hopes to respond to the need for a forum for regional collaboration within the country to counter the dividing effects of the ethnic war, he said.

Some of the artistes
A theatre-maker from Britain, Barnaby King brings people together for performing projects in schools. He also writes plays and conducts workshops. He explores both social and political issues, his most recent piece being about racism.

"There is a lot of tension and endemic racism in Leeds where I come from," he says, adding that he does not make moral judgments or give a message but tries to challenge assumptions and get people to see points of view other than what they have grown up with.

Originally from the Netherlands, Mella Jaqarsma has been in Java, Indonesia for the past 20 years. Her speciality is working with bamboo, skins (snake and fox etc.) and bricks to create installations. Her recent installation of a bamboo hut is still in use in Indonesia. She hopes to make a three dimensional installation for a park in Sri Lanka.

For Amanda Heng of Singapore her body, sounds, images and everyday objects are the medium of expression. Her ideas deal with self-identity or searching for an identity - cultural, social, gender or national in terms of the politics in Singapore.

Painter and sculptor Salahuddin Khan (Srabon) of Bangladesh has done various installations where non-art material has been transformed into art. "Even a live performance can be an installation," he says. He mainly paints animal and human forms with oil and acrylic. For sculpture and installations, he uses clay which is sometimes transformed into metal, fibreglass or wood.

Srinivasa Prasad B.H. of India works with nature and the seasons while using locally and naturally available materials. The paintings of Asma Mundrawala of Pakistan explore the relationship between modernization in the urban setting and its effect on culture.

Proficient dancer (ballet, Kandyan and Free Style) and choreographer, Kapila Palihawadana of Sri Lanka who is also the founder of the Natanda Dance Troupe has performed in many shows. A student of Usha Saravanamuttu, he has won many awards. He teaches Russian at the Kelaniya University.

Sri Lankan Kusal Nandana uses oil for his abstract paintings and his themes revolve around the war. He has a collection of paintings of boots and their different styles.

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