PHOTO EXHIBITION AND DOCUMENTARY FILM

“Marvels of a Cultural Heritage”
“sanscruthika urumayaka haskam”

As a part of the 2007 National Day Celebrations, the Presidential Secretariat will present a comprehensive Photo Exhibition and a Documentary Film Show titled ““Marvels of a Cultural Heritage”(“sanscruthika urumaye haskam”), focusing on a selection of exquisite paintings that adorn historic sites of Sri Lanka. The Exhibition will be held at the BMICH - Sirima Bandaranaika Exhibition Centre from February 04 to 7th, 2007 - 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.

The Documentary film will be shown daily, at the BMICH Cinema Hall, February 4th to 7th, 2007, from 7 to 8:30 pm.

The Exhibition and the film present a selection of over 350 works of art, associated with a period that exceeds 2200 years, from 3rd Century BCE to the 21st Century. These paintings represent a diversity of historic sites including those designated by the UNESCO as World Heritage Sites – Sigiriya, Dambulla, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Mahanuwara). Included are paintings found on ancient caves, temples, monasteries, royal palaces, and inside stupas.

The paintings that will be displayed are those found on a diversity of surfaces, such as ancient cave and rock surfaces, walls including relic chamber walls inside stupas, ceilings, statues and related structures, on doors and other wooden surfaces, clay and earthenware, and on textiles in Buddhist shrines and historic sites. Paintings that are featured are reflective of varied art styles, approaches and traditions of the past and present. Some paintings of cave temples are over 2000 years old and some more than a 1000 years.

Exhibits are accompanied by narrative scripts outlining the history and major elements of art works of the different periods of art in the country.

The objective of the exhibition and the documentary film is to provide a glimpse of the island’s rich tradition of art - a fascinating aspect of its visual cultural heritage. These paintings reveal vividly the richness of imagination, creativity, aesthetic sense and inspiration of our artists of the past and present times.

Visual presentations of this nature are bound to bring about increased awareness and appreciation of the richness of our cultural heritage and will be of particular interest and significance for our younger generation. This event is planned as a place where people could see, appreciate and learn; a place that stimulates a sense of pleasure, pride and discovery; as an experience providing an aesthetic challenge resulting in a greater cultural awareness and discernment. It will be an opportunity for intercultural dialogue and appreciation.

Besides, events of this nature help to generate interest in conserving and promoting these priceless national treasures for posterity. Inevitably, the range of techniques and styles evident in these artistic masterpieces of Sri Lanka should be of particular interest to contemporary art enthusiasts and creative artists looking for inspiration for innovative artistic ventures.

Buddhist paintings dominate the art traditions of our country. They are among the most gentle and sublime art of humankind. Some are among the oldest surviving Buddhist art of South Asia. They are known to generate inner calm, and evoke serene joy and emotion in people, irrespective of their religious or cultural backgrounds. They transcend artistic and aesthetic appreciation and appeal to something higher and deeper. Engrossed in classical Buddhist paintings one finds that they tend to enter one’s inner self, transforming one’s mind to a state of innocence, compassion, serene joy and peacefulness.

Themes of these paintings highlight the life and teachings of the Buddha. Both the exhibition and film, takes one on a visual pilgrimage of many historic sites with exquisite paintings, providing an overall view of the overflowing richness of the nation’s cultural tradition. Ancient paintings with secular themes reflect a spiritual predisposition.

The documentary film presents a considerable amount of information and interpretations on the nation’s historic paintings and serves as a resource for those familiar with Buddhist art and for those interested in learning more on this exciting visual cultural heritage.

Photographs of paintings are products of Daya and Sesath Hewapathirane, who are responsible for the overall concept and design of the exhibition and the documentary film with overall assistance from Apsara and Damayanthi Hewapathirane.


Dr. Daya Hewapathirane
www.kalaava.com