The Story Of Loss
- Visual Responses During The War: Selected Works Of Artists
By Sumaya Samarasinghe
A little over a year has passed since the 30 year old brutal which ravaged our nation came to an end. Visual Responses Ruring The War: Selected Works Of Artists brings together more than 20 Sri Lankan contemporary artists, who, through their paintings, sculptures, drawings and photography give us their interpretation and representation of war and its impact on society.
This exhibition is an opportunity for its viewers to allow themselves to reflect and remember the plight of those whose lives were shattered by the conflict.
Artist and curator of the exhibition, Chandraguptha Thenuwara spoke to The Sunday Leader.
Q: Do you think Sri Lankans in general suffer from short term memory loss and rather forget about war and those who were terribly affected by the 30 year old conflict?
A: It is amazing to see how Sri Lankans, especially those who live in predominantly Sinhala areas such as Southern, Central, Western and North Western Provinces etc, immediately forget about what we went through during the last three decades. Economical issues are crucial for day to day living. But memory is a part of culture and everyday our past becomes just some little thing we would rather forget.
But artists and scholars have a duty to look at the past, learn something, show or express their opinions in their medium of expression. Otherwise misinterpreted things will turn up side down the so called ‘victory’. We easily forgot the heroes and heroines. We are ready to blame anyone any moment. The general public, especially those who are living far away from the metropolitan areas can be brainwashed easily. We are living in the constructed visual realities by electronic media especially state and partly by the private.
Q: In your opinion is the role of the artist to keep society accountable for its actions?
A: Social-conscious artists’ responsibility is keep society accountable for its actions.
Q: How do you feel an artist is perceived in this country?
A: In my opinion general public reacts to art with sympathy except extremist or chauvinist or fundamentalists. Art lovers who want to collect beautiful pictures might be unhappy. These art works should be displayed in museums. Unfortunately we do not have a proper art museum. In other countries where contemporary art is very radical, questionable etc. they have collectors who love different kinds of art and there are museums which collect contemporary masterpieces for the public. Unfortunately we do not have that. Almost all the exhibitions are artists’ initiatives. Very few public or corporate sectors help artists. Artists sacrifice their money, time, energy and everything else to produce this kind of art. Socio-political artists suffer a lot. Economically, politically, socially.
One of the artists exhibiting is Anoma Wijewardene. “Quest” her video installation which uses the medium of digital art has a strange hypnotic effect on its viewers. While the visuals are depictions of conflict and violence between man, nature, society and cultures; it is also clearly about transformation and reconcilitation. With photographs of mine-infested areas, to bombed out cinemas or a bus stop (which is no more), of people waiting patiently for their transport to arrive, we are made to remember how little pleasures and services we take so often for granted, have never been experienced by a large part of our society.
This exhibition and the work of every single artist taking part in it, is like an alarm bell reminding us that true peace even within ourselves cannot be achieved unless introspection and accountability for one’s actions become part and parcel of day to day life.
Visual Responses During The War: Selected Works Of Artists
(Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Installation and Photography)
Curated by Chandraguptha Thenuwara
At Lionel Wendt Gallery and The Harold Pieris Gallery
Preview on August 27 from 5 to 7 pm.
The exhibition will remain open from August 28th – 31st. Gallery Hours: 10 am-7 pm.
Organised by Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts.
