It was 2003. After a tedious day of organizing an exhibition of paintings at the Alliance française de Kandy, Dr. Jacques Soulié, Director of Alliance française de Kandy joined us in our usual discussion on aspects of aesthetic disciplines.
Committed to the Alliance’s primary aim – the promotion of language and culture, he emphasized the importance of bringing about a cultural programme to encourage up and coming youngsters in the aesthetic discipline; to open their eyes to the design, colour, rhythm, texture, and pattern of the world around them in natural and manmade wonders.
It was proposed to give fresh impetus to this through an annual cultural event. The AYA (Alliance Young Artists) was the outcome of this discussion.
AYA, has thus been in existence for eight fruitful years, giving promising young artists a major opening into the art world and serving art lovers of the hill capital. Those who were participants of this programme have been immensely benefited and some have gone on to hold solo exhibitions.
This year’s chosen artists for AYA 2010 are: Dhanushka Rathnayake (selected for the Institute of Aesthetic Studies, Colombo), Gayani Herath (Girls’ High School, Kandy), Poorni Wijesinghe (Mahamaya Girls’ College, Kandy), Pramodya Kuruvitavidanage (Dharmaraja College / Alliance française, Kandy) and Ravindu Bentotahewa (Ecole Internationale / Alliance française, Kandy).
AYA 2010 will be held at the Gallery of the Alliance française de Kandy, 642 Peradeniya Road, Kandy from September 4- 13. Dr. Kusantha Herat, Senior Lecturer in French, Head of the French Section, University of Peradeniya will declare open the exhibition on September 3 at 6.30 p.m.
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| Poorni |
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| Pramodya |
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| Gayani |
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| Ravindu’s creation |
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| Dhanushka |
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