When a potter, a painter and a textile designer connect
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The painter: Milinda Gunasekera
Three artists come together to showcase their individual creativity influenced by their Lankan heritage and experiences abroad
By Malathy Knight
The craftmanship of Mihiri de Silva, Milinda Gunasekera and Udeni Seneviratne, is rooted in Sri Lankan heritage and influenced by their individual experiences abroad. Whether it be through clay, colour, texture or transforming simple objects into beautiful pieces of art, their creations reflect the artists’ love for Sri Lanka.
“Cultural Connections”, their exhibition will be held at the Lionel Wendt on December 6 and 7.
The exhibition came about from their desire to jointly showcase their individual and shared creativity through their work. Aside from family ties, they are bound by the fascination of reimagining the ordinary as well as mutual inspiration and admiration for each other’s skills.
Mihiri, who worked as a professional designer in the garment industry for almost three decades before she transitioned to the potter’s wheel, is intrigued by “the conversion of a ball of soil to something solid.” She is fascinated by the unpredictability of the kiln and embraces the imperfections inherent in each functional, contemporary piece she shapes.
Milinda, a self-taught artist who grew up in Italy, “blends different styles of art from around the world to everyday materials like coconut shells and old furniture to reimagine and transform these into something beautiful.”
Udeni, who spent most of her life in the English countryside, is influenced by a “love of nature, the countryside, muted colours, classical English textiles and a relaxed approach to décor.” Her simple yet beautiful creations ranging from handmade greeting cards and beaded jewellery to home decor using English floral designs and muted colours reflect her quest to make even the simplest mundane item a prettier version of itself. “My drive to be creative has always been the search for something I need personally,” she says.
While all three artisans have achieved success and recognition, they have also encountered challenges in their artistic journeys. The scarcity and high cost of raw materials locally and need to import these supplies incurring higher costs is a common problem. Mihiri bemoans the lack of support for pottery even though Sri Lanka’s soil is ideal for this craft. Pottery is now a dying craft although it once was a celebrated part of Sri Lanka’s heritage as discovered in archaeological findings dating back to the 2nd century BC in Anuradhapura, Kantharodai and Tissamaharama.
“The satisfaction that I get when I complete a piece is something that no monotonous job could give me,” says Milinda, who finds it frustrating that art and crafts are
still dismissed in Sri Lanka as viable career options.
The potter: Mihiri de Silva
Potential setbacks however improve organisational skills, enhance the ability to work creatively and innovatively with the raw materials available, and think outside of the box, they say.
The three artists also offer important messages to other artists who aspire to make an impact in arts and crafts. Pottery, Mihiri emphasises, is “an artisanal craft that combines passion and patience where you need to be able to create something out of nothing.” Adds Milinda “one could be naturally talented or not, but if they have passion, dedication and skill, great things can be achieved.” Udeni’s message is “create what you love and what makes you happy.”
The exhibition is as deeply personal to them, as is an artistic expression.
‘Cultural Connections’ is on on December 6 and 7 at the Lionel Wendt Gallery.
The textile designer: Udeni Seneviratne
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