A SPECIAL DOCUMENTARY FILM:
Indigenous Paintings of Sri Lanka
1) Colombo University on
Monday June 16, 2008, at 6 pm: & at
(2) Moratuwa University on Thursday 12th June 2008, at 11 am.
Admission is Free
Designed and Produced by
Dr. Daya Hewapathirane Advisor to H.E. the President of Sri Lanka
This film takes one on a visual pilgrimage of many Buddhist sites of
Sri Lanka , providing a glimpse of the rich tradition of the nations
indigenous art. The film provides an overview of the overflowing richness
of the nations cultural tradition. It presents an assortment of
artwork, associated with a period that exceeds 2200 years, from 3rd
Century BCE to the 21st Century. These paintings reveal vividly the
richness of imagination, creativity, aesthetic sense and inspiration
of our people. They represent a diversity of historic sites scattered
across the country, including those designated by the UNESCO as World
Heritage Sites.
Paintings that are featured are reflective of varied art styles, approaches
and traditions of the past and present. Included are paintings found
in ancient caves, temples, monasteries, royal palaces, and on a diversity
of surfaces, such as cave and rock surfaces, walls including relic chamber
walls inside stupas, ceilings, statues and associated structures, on
doors and other wooden surfaces, clay and earthenware, and on textiles
in historic sites including Buddhist shrines. Paintings on wooden surfaces
are found on the ceilings of Buddhist shrines, ola manuscript covers,
screens, boxes used to store sacred objects.
The film provides a comprehensive perspective of the islands long
and rich heritage of Buddhist art, associated with a period that exceeds
2200 years, from 3rd century BCE to modern times. Among the oldest paintings
are those on rock surfaces in caves, and in relic chambers inside stupas.
Some Buddhist paintings of Sri Lanka are among the oldest surviving
Buddhist art of the South Asian region. These paintings reveal vividly
the richness of inspiration, imagination, creativity and aesthetic sense
of our artists of the past and present times. Influenced by their inner
spiritual emotions and discipline, our artists developed their own expressions,
approaches and styles which resulted in a unique artistic tradition,
and a range of artistic creations that are characteristic to Sri Lanka
.
The film presents a considerable amount of information and interpretations
on the nations 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. The objective of the
film is to provide a glimpse of the islands rich tradition of
art - a fascinating aspect of its visual cultural heritage. While helping
to stimulate a sense of pleasure, pride and discovery, this film provides
an aesthetic challenge resulting in greater cultural awareness and discernment.
We believe that visual presentations of this nature help to generate
increased awareness and appreciation of the richness of our cultural
heritage. They are of special significance for our younger generation.
Buddhist paintings 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 ones inner self, transforming ones
mind to a state of innocence, compassion, serene joy and peacefulness.
Enrichment and promotion of indigenous arts and culture being a fundamental
principle of the Mahinda Chinthanaya, this film has been
planned as an opportunity for all to see, appreciate and learn, and
as an occasion that stimulates a sense of pleasure, pride and discovery.
It is an experience providing an aesthetic challenge resulting in a
greater cultural awareness and discernment.
This is a documentary film that was shown internationally in several
countries and locally at the Colombo National Museum , the National
Art Gallery and the BMICH theatre. The duration of the film is one and
half hours and there are two versions - Sinhala and English. In recent
months, it was shown at several Military camps as a means of boosting
the morale of our soldiers and military personnel. At present we are
in the process of showing this film at universities and national and
provincial schools, across the country. National TV channels have presented
segments of the film at various times in the past. All English and Sinhala
national newspapers have carried reviews and articles on the film, referring
to Buddhist paintings presented in the film as Marvels of a Cultural
Heritage.
Tel: 077-348-7638; 011-243-1701
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