ARTRA Magazine's highly anticipated event, 'Comics and Caricatures,' claimed the spotlight over the weekend at the Brief Garden by Bevis Bawa. The event marked the opening of the Art Experiential Festival celebrating the Bawa Brothers, a three-day extravaganza that ran from the 13th to the 15th of October. The festival was an engaging lineup of programmes, including art talks, tours, and exhibitions that attracted a diverse and exclusive crowd of Sri Lanka's most influential figures and contemporary art enthusiasts.

The weekend kicked off with an art and garden tour led by Juliet Coombe, accomplished author and photojournalist, known for her bestsellers, 'Around the Galle Fort in 80 Lives' and 'Sri Lanka's Other Half: A Guide to the Central, Eastern, and Northern Provinces.' The walk aptly named, the Kill or Cure Tour, the interactive tour of the Brief Garden, explored the thinking behind Bevis Bawa's magnificent creation, which had become a central meeting point for the literati and the glitterati by the late 1960s. To a captivated group of walkers, Coombe described the nature of Bawa's friendship with Australian artist Donald Friend, whose stay with Bawa for five years in the garden, resulted in adding to the eccentric yet unique style of the Bawa home.  

This tour delved into the enchanting narratives of a captivating space, unveiling untold tales, rich in humorous detail. Coombe together with the group examined not only the horticultural remedies but also the significance of hidden pathways, twisting its way through the lush garden. The tour illuminated the reasoning for Bawa’s quest to follow the light, particularly the moonlight, known as the ideal time for planting seeds. Navigating the intricate network of pathways around the house, Coombe shared intriguing insights about how renowned authors like Agatha Christie ingeniously incorporated plants into their murder mysteries. The tour also touched upon Conan Doyle's visit to the island in the 1920s and the garden's role in literary inspiration.

Amidst these captivating stories, the symbolism behind garden staircases, the artistry of sculptures, the psychology of serene resting spots, and the artistic contributions of luminaries like Barbara Sansoni, were also revealed. The walk was followed by an art talk discussing the life and times of Political Satirist Aubrey Collete, featuring Cresside Collette, daughter of Aubrey and an artist herself, together with Rohan de Soysa, a close friend of Bevis Bawa and the Chairman of Sapumal Foundation. The highlight of Saturday's programme however was Juliet Coombe's conversation with Author Herman Gunaratne, on some truly fascinating stories emerging from the island of Ceylon. Coombe discussed the legendary actress Vivien Leigh and what had truly occurred during the filming of Elephant Walk in 1954. With Gunaratne, she covered how Bevis had met Vivien at the Galle Face Hotel and how she had been fascinated by Bevis's artistic circle at Brief.

Herman Gunaratne, a reluctant explorer of the dark forces himself, talked of how seriously the island's tryst with the supernatural should be regarded. Attendees were also treated to afternoon tea, at the beautifully landscaped lawns of the Brief, while listening to the reminiscences of Dooland de Silva, Guardian and Owner of Brief, and Bevis’ confidante, a talk led by Azara Jaleel, Editor-inChief of ARTRA Magazine. Saturday's lineup concluded with the launch of the 'Comics and Caricatures' edition discussing the work that went into the creation of this unique edition. Providing valuable insights, and showcasing the rich tapestry of modern and contemporary art in Sri Lanka, the event saw attendees taking the opportunity to engage with these prominent figures in the art scene and gain a deeper understanding of the creative process.

TEXT Kalani Kumarasinghe

PIX BY Pradeep  Dilrukshana