Arts

Designer with a desire to be different

Her innovative patterns and designs have completely changed the face of the mundane. Her chikan salwar suits keep in mind the trends, colours and fabrics of the season. A winner of the Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur Award of the Federation of Indian Chambers for Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for 2002/2003, Manju Jalota is one of the few people to have entered the heartland of the traditional crafts of chikankari and zardozi in Uttar Pradesh and secured business for the Muslim women there.

Jalota was the head of the Department of Geography, St. Francis College, Lucknow but gave up her job to get involved with the traditional crafts. “My job as a teacher was satisfying but my time was never my own. There was always something, the board exams, being on the ICSE panel or commitment to see my students through class X,” Jalota says.

Then came the stage in Jalota’s life when she finally decided that family commitments had to take precedence. Turning away from her career of 18 years was however easier said than done. “I had been a salaried person all my life and couldn’t give up on the security it provided. Near my house in Lucknow is a village from where Muslim women would occasionally come asking for jobs. My daughter was about to get married and I got these women to work on her apparel. Then friends of my daughter suggested that I hold an exhibition,” Jalota explained.

However Jalota had enough money to finance only 50 pieces from the Muslim womenfolk. She nevertheless went ahead and held an exhibition at the Maurya Sheraton Hotel, New Delhi. Almost 40 pieces were sold the first day and that was just the beginning for this designer. For two years Jalota balanced her regular job with her new found passion. Jalota eventually gave up her regular job and took to promoting chikankari and zardozi.

Today’s Jalota’s label Alankrit has under its wings nearly 40 villages and employs countless craftsmen. Attention to detail has always been a noteworthy feature in Jalota’s work and the reason for her success. “Life is a challenge with no room for stagnation and one has to do new things,” Jalota said.

Manju Jalota’s Alankrit designer wear sale, a collection that spells class in every stitch, will be held on June 26 and 27 at 49 1/1 Layards Road Colombo 5. On sale will be sarees, salwars, tunics, dupattas and salwar fabrics. This collection celebrates Indian workmanship in hand embroidery at its finest.

Footwork to present Dancefest

Footwork Events is organising Dancefest — a three day dance festival to be held from  July 4 to 6. It will comprise of two dance competitions and a Latin dance party to be held in Kandy and Colombo.

Footwork being a pioneer in organising international dancesport championships in Sri Lanka for the past 15 years, has had phenomenal success which featured some of the best dance couples in the world.   Dance is an art form that transcends man-made boundaries of language and race. Footwork feels that it is a timely gesture to present such a unifying experience to its audiences.

In an effort to establish standards in promoting dancesport in the country, Footwork has created a unique, first time opportunity for dance enthusiasts in the culturally rich hill capital of Sri Lanka by holding a special competition in Kandy. Another aspect to the unwavering dedication by Footwork to promote dancesport in Sri Lanka is the special techniques workshop conducted by an expert instructor especially flown in from Malaysia and the medal tests for an international certificate, examined by representatives from the World Dance Council, which are scheduled to be held on July, 4 and 7.  

Closely followed by the party, are the more formal and comprehensive dance competitions which will comprise Salsa, Ballroom and Latin American championship events. The Kandy competitions will be held on  July 5  at the Queens Hotel and the Colombo competition on  July 6 at the Galadari Hotel, enabling participation from a wider spectrum of competitors and audiences. 

The highlight of Dancefest will be the scintillating five-dance performance by Thailand’s reigning Amateur Latin American Dance Champions, Nontasart Meksawad and Uraiwan Kamawatana at the end of each dance competition, as well as the Latin Dance Party.  The couple has been dancing together for eight years and their recent achievements include; four times Thailand Amateur Champions, two times Malaysia Amateur Champions, two Times Hong Kong Amateur Champions and Singapore Amateur Champions. 

‘Ways Of Sri Lanka’ picture postcards

Pictures depicting beautiful Sri Lanka on postcards are always an inspirational sight. The newest series of picture postcards on sale in leading bookshops and other outlets feature more than a unique and inspirational image. Each card carries words of wisdom and inspiration taken from the teachings of the Dhamma.

‘Ways Of Sri Lanka’ picture postcards are not just any postcards – they are rare and special than most. The images featured have not appeared on picture postcards before and highlight fascinating details from various places of interest. Each picture is complemented by a message that inspires the reader. The serene and wise thought featured on the front of the card invites the recipient to ‘live with the wakefulness and compassion of the Lord Buddha.’

Showcasign contemporary art from Sri Lanka

Art Biennale arrives in Colombo

By Faraz Shauketaly

The world of the Art Biennale is set to arrive in Sri Lanka too. Joining  cities such as Dubai, Bangladesh, Singapore, New York,  Sydney and of course Venice, Colombo will have its very own “Colombo Art Biennale” in September 2009. The show will encourage displays of contemporary art from artists in Sri Lanka. International artists have also shown interest and there are plans afoot to accommodate artists from the region and the EEC.

Colombo Art Biennale is the brainchild of Annoushka Hempel who has made Sri Lanka her home. Based in Galle and Colombo, Annoushka and her family have been in Sri Lanka for almost seven years.  Contemporary art is something of a passion for Annoushka. Her previous background in public relations work for blue chip clients in the UK has seen an energetic drive to promote the Biennale concept to Sri Lanka.

The Biennale world has an international following from lovers of the arts. Annoushka Hempel has chosen her theme in this crucial year for Sri Lanka very appropriately. Its called “Imagining Peace: The Colombo Art Biennale 2009”.

The Biennale will be held at Park Street Mews, where five large warehouses will be converted into distinctive pavillions – each managed by a different strong curator showcasing a different artist collective. Substantial interest has been generated and the art community in Sri Lanka is bracing for a four day event which is now expected to also bring in visitors from abroad.

Imagining Peace is very appropriate for this country especially now that the war is over. Artists will be able to express themselves through this medium and be exposed to an international following. The organisers have surrounded themselves with curators who fully appreciate the impact that art and especially contemporary art will have on the art world in Sri Lanka. It will also help to showcase Sri Lankan artists to an international audience.

Said Annoushka Hempel, about her flagship project; “Colombo Art Biennale is not only about showcasing Sri Lankan art, this is a project with a vision. This is to show that despite the fact that Sri Lanka has been a politically, ethnically polarised society, artists still can work together in pursuit of harmony, a sign of peace in itself.”

“Artists in Sri Lanka have something to share; an expression of the challenges of their daily lives, deepened by the rich, mystical history of the country.  Until now they have not been given the opportunity to be fully seen or properly express themselves to their optimum, and they have so much to share.”

For nearly a week, the whole of Colombo will be buzzing with this event in September.  The main venue in central Colombo comprising 14,000 sq ft of dramatic and impressive warehouse space will be filled with creative contemporary conceptual installation pieces that promise to be both eye opening and interactive. 

As well as the main venue, there will be a map route of several other Art Biennale destinations to visit around the city including galleries, street art, studios to name but a few and Beira Lake island will be used for special workshops and performances.  This will add to the energy and the buzz to launch the very first contemporary Art Biennale in Colombo to show the world its strong and individual creative capacity.  (faraz@thesundayleader.lk)

Young fashion designer going places 

She started designing when she was 16, and today her passion for designing has brought her much prestige and success as a designer.

Sarani Randika Gunawickrema’s father was a doctor and it was only natural for her family to expect her to follow in her father’s footsteps. However Gunawickrema soon realised that her interest in fashion designing took precedence over her studies to become a doctor.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader Gunawickrema who studied at Museaus College said soon after her O/L’s in 2005 she joined the Academy of Design in 2006. In August 2008 she did a course — Higher National Diploma in Fashion Designing conducted by Edexel. “On completion of this course I graduated and was then nominated by Edexel to take part in the Colombo Fashion Week. I was the youngest participant at the show. Dharshi Keerthisena bought one of my designs at this show. Keerthisena and Edexel introduced me to Ajagi Virsingh,” Gunawickrema said.

Gunawickrema’s designs include those based on surreal, bad, and quirky styles. “I take around two weeks to design a ball gown or long gown. I design in two lines. The main line and the defusion line. The main line includes handcrafted designs on rich fabric and the defusion line includes t’shirts and cotton pants among others,” Gunawickrema explained.

She added that people are interested in buying her designs. “Indian fashion designers are asking me if my designs are available in India. Due to these inquiries I thought I should have my own fashion label. In 2010 I hope to launch my own fashion house and label,” Gunawickrema added. Her fashion collection was featured in the Indian Elle, Indian Vogue, Deccan Chronicle and Jade magazines while the local magazines include Living, Leisure Times and Adoh.

“Depending on the market I hope to send my designs to India in the future,” she said.

Kiwanis comes to Kandy

By Hafiz Marikar

Twenty five years after chartering the first ever Kiwanis Club in Sri Lanka, Kiwanis Club of Colombo City was successful in sponsoring the second club in  Sri Lankan soil in the beautiful hill capital Kandy, in keeping with Kiwanis International’s ambitious programme of having one million members by the year 2015.

The Kiwanis Club of Kandy City was chartered on  February 28, 2009. Kiwanis International was represented by Kiwanis Asia Pacific Immediate Past Chairman Kwn. Stewart Labrooy, who was also the chief guest at this memorable event. The Club was co-sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Klang, Malaysia. The Charter President is Kwn. Udumbara Udugama. She was able to muster 25 charter members who were inducted at a well attended dinner at the Hotel Suisse, Kandy.

Kiwanis is a global organisation of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time. Changing the world is done through service to children and communities. Kiwanis members help shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, mentor the disadvantaged, and care for the sick.

They develop youth as leaders, build playgrounds, raise funds for paediatric research, and much more. No problem is too big or too small. Why? Because working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone. When you give a child a chance to learn, experience, dream, and succeed, great things happen!

Kiwanians around the globe have one common goal: To serve the children of the world. Kiwanis advocates this vision every day by providing opportunities to serve for every member of a community through Service Leadership Programmes. Through these opportunities, youth and young adults around the world become competent, capable, and compassionate leaders

There are countless benefits to becoming a Kiwanis member — fellowship, growing leadership skills, and the opportunity to serve children in your community and around the world.