Visual Reponses During the War:Selected Works of Artists

“In peace prepare for war, in war prepare for peace. The art of war is of vital importance to state. It is matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence under no circumstances can it be neglected”~ Sun Tzu , Chinese Military commander, (722–481 BC or 476–221 BC)

Visual Responses During the War:Selected Works of Artists Painting,Drawing,Sculpture,Installation and Photography is currently being held at Lionel Wendt Gallery&Harold Pieris Gallery in Colombo. The exhibition will remain open from 28th of August 2010 till 31st of August 2010.The gallery hours are from 10am to 7pm.22 artists are participating in the Visual Responses During the War:Selected Works of artists.The exhibition is organised by Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts.

Participating artists are as follows:-
Jagath Weerasinghe, Chandraguptha Thenuwara, Kingsley Gunatillake, Anoma Wijewardene, Muhanned Cader, T. Shanathanan, Kamala Vasuki, G.R. Constantine, Anoma Rajakaruna, T.P.G. Amarajeewa, Sujith Rathnayake, Inoka De Silva, Chammika Jayawardena, Kusal Gunasekara, Anura Krishantha, Vaidehi Rajasingham, Niluka Weerasinghe, Sanath Kalubadana, Prasanna Ranabahu, Bandu Manamperi, Sajeewani Hewavitharana and Kiko.



Artists have responded in various ways - some artists have chosen to respond directly to what was happening before them, while others responded indirectly

When tracing back the history of the responses, it is clear that the pogrom of July 1983 was a critical turning point for many artists

The history of Sri Lankan art turned a new page to respond to this new era and with it came the dawn of a new appreciation and audience

“I have enough guilt to start my own religion”, Acrylic on Paper, 1992-93 by
Jagath Weerasinghe

“Barrelism Tourist Map”, Mixed Media, 1997 by Chandraguptha Thenuwara

“War & Culture”, (Detail),Installation, Mixed Media, 2007 by Kingsley Gunatillake

"Quest", 2006 by Anoma Wijewardene

"Missing", Etching, 1995 by T.Shanaathanan

"Nightscape", Oil on Plywood by Muhanned Cader

"Broken Palmyrah”, Acrylic on Board, 1998 by G.R.Constantine

“ My Child is Not For War”, Acrylic on Paper, 2003 by Kamala Vasuki

"Women sharing life building peace”,1998 by Anoma Rajakaruna

After the Town Hall Bomb” ,Photocopy,Photograph, Acrylic Paint, Lace, Board,2000 by Sujith Rathnayake

“Welcome to Eastern Province”, Acrylic on Board, 2000 by T.P.G. Amarajeewa

“The Charming explosion”, Installation, Mixed Media, 2000 by Prasanna Ranabahu

“Camouflage”, Oil on Canvas, 2001 by Chammika Jayawardana

“Woven Boot”, Reeds, 2001 by Kusal Gunasekara

“Wreaths”, Installation, Mixed Media,2004 by Anura Krishantha

“The Instant Nirvana Private Ltd”. Installation, Mixed Media, 2001 by Bandu Manamperi

“Transit- I”, Etching,and “Transit- II”,Mixed media, 2008 by Vaidehi Rajasingham

“Letters”, Mixed Media, 2008 by Inoka De Silva

My Friend in the Corner Stand”, Installation, Mixed Media, 2003 by Sanath Kalubadana

“Camouflage lace”, Mixed Media on embroidery frame,2008 by Sajewani Hewawitharana

“ Stress Wheel Chair”, Oil on Canvas, 2008 by Niluka Weerasinghe

"Ganesh”, Acrylic on Paper, 2004 by Kiko

Spectacular Street Parade of a Sparkling Silver Cart

“You are invited to the festival of this world and your life is blessed”~ Rabindranath Tagore, (1861-1941), (Indian Poet,Playwright and Essaiyist.Won the Noble Prize for Literature in 1913)

The Silver Vel cart decorated with fresh flower garlands, lines of electrical bulbs in Yellow and traditional cloth hanging paraded through the main streets of Colombo.The 136th Annual Aadi Vel festival was held in Colombo with colour and glamour. Beautifully decorated Silver cart left the the Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswamy temple in Sea Street left in the morning on July 24th 2010 and reached the Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswamy in Bambalapitty at night, and stayed there for three nights. The same cart left the Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswamy temple in Bambalapitty on 27th July 2010 in the morning and reached the Colombo Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswamy temple in Sea Street on July 28th 2010 early morning. The colourful procession paraded through the main streets in Colombo. Traditional musicians playing the Thavil and Naathaswaram led the procession. The festival wended through many main streets in Colombo after a lapse of 16 years. The colourful procession started from Pettah and travel through York Street, Echelon Square and Galle Road to Bambalapitty, which has been the route for the annual Vel festival for more the 100 years.


The idols of Lord Murugan and his two wives Goddess Valli Ammai and Goddess Theivayaanai paraded in the cart and blessed the devotees on the way. Special Poojas were offered during their comfortable stay at Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswamy temple in Bambalapitty. The whole temple was decorated beautifully with Yellow colour lights, Banana leaves and fresh flower ganrlands. Devotees thronged the temple in large numbers to welcome and worship the visiting deities and enjoy the traditional musical concerts. And traditional musicians played throughout the colourful procession filled the streets of Colombo. Many devotees worshipped the visiting deities, fulfilled their vows and made new vows.



A view of Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswamy temple in Bambalapitty

The Chendai is used as an accompaniment for Kathakail,Koodiyaattam and among many forms of dances and rituals in Kerala

Visiting Indian musicians are seen performing

Torch bearer of the festival

Shower time at dawn

Religious texts confirm how diificult it is to be ndowed with the human form

Performance at every junction in the night

A scene at Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswamy temple in Bambalapitty at dawn

Chariot parades in the night

Music lovers stop by to enjoy

Decorated Bull in Bambalapitty

Devotees throng to worship and watch the Vel cart

The Bulls have been pulling the Silver cart for 136 years

Deities are being taken on a parade inside the temple

Panchchaararththi is being offered to the deities

The true supreme spirit resides within the body and mind the always

Naagai Kalaichudarmani Sakalakala Thavil Maamurasu Thavil Chakkaravarthy Sikkal P.Srinivasan and group at a stage performance in the night

Many gather to fulfill their vows

Performance continues amidst the hot weather

Beautifully decorated deities are on the move

Carvings on the Chariot

Horns are decorated with wool bands and ribbons

Prayer must be the very core of the life of man

Chendai is used in some parts of Karnatak where it is called Chande

The festival reaches it highest spirit at night

Chendai musicians are on mobile at night

Decorated for the festival

The festival reaches its highest spirit in the night

A section of festive goers

Kerala's Chenkanoor Sivankutty and group-Panchcha Vaaththiyam-Chendai are being performed at night during the Vel fetival

Lines of electric bulbs are lit to decorate the whole temple

Silver dress for Lord Vinayagar at the main sanctum

Ardent devotees listening to a spiritual speech delivered by Muthamizh Viththagi Vasuki Manokaran at Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswamy temple

The visiting deities at Aanantha Sayanam (Beautiful Sleep) at Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswamy temple

Beautiful view of Sammaankodu Sri Maanikka Vinayagar temple from Nattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswmay temple

The Chendai is mainly played as an accompaniment in the Hindu religious art forms of Kerala

Hindus believe divinity moves clockwise

Traditional music Kachcheri is performed by visiting Naagai Kalaichudarmani Sakalakala Thavil Maamurasu Thavil Chakkaravarthy Sikkal P.Srinivasan

Devotees are seen buying trays of offerings

Goddess is dressed in Red for Aadi Sevvaai at Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswamy temple in Bambalapitty

Chendai drummer keeps beating without break

Flag bearers of the festival

Heavy Chariot moves slowly on the streets

Devotees singing Lord Murugan devotional songs

Continuous strikes by an Indian drummer

Chariot moves through a heavy morning traffic in Colombo

Kerosene cart in Bambalapitty

Chendai musician from Kerala blows an iron Trumpet

Karakkam dancers are taking part in the procession

Beautiful wooden horses hang on Chariot

Velupillai Arichchandran is dressed up and pretended to be the Idumban

Many gathered to witness the colourful fetival

Traditional musicians are seen playing devotional songs

Theevatti or torch is usually carried in front of the procession

A cupid on the Chariot

The Chief Priest of Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswamy temple in Bambalapitty Nagarajah Kurukkal is taking a ride in the chariot

Row of musicians on the road

At the bottom of the Chariot

Decorated bulls pull the Chariot

The deities are seated in the moving Chariot

God is present as the soul in every living hing

Competing with the heavy morning traffic

Sivasri Kamalanatha Kurukkal of Naattukkottai Nagaraththaar Sri Kathirvelaayuthaswamy in Sea Street accompanying the deities

The pinnacle is decorated with flower garland,Silk and Umbrella

The path of faith and devotion brings happiness and protects one from grief

Wooden Dolls fixed to the Chariot

Colourful Chariot takes the lead on Galle Road

Men are seen breaking coconuts to fulfill their vows

After offering to the God

Bajan singers follow the Chariot