The Colombo Art Biennale began last week on Friday. This year’s theme is ‘Conceiving Space’ and Life Online explored some of the programmes that took place over the weekend. 

“Re encounters” By Samson Ogiamien and Ceylon African Manja was a beautiful performance with stunning and vibrant music and dance from the Afro – Sri Lankan and Edo – Nigerian communities, re affirming African Cultural Heritage in Sri Lanka that has survived for many centuries. It was amazing to watch under the city lights of Colombo on the ZMAX Fairway Hotel rooftop. Towards the end even the audience was invited to join in with the dancing. 

We spoke to Samson Ogiamien himself to know and understand more about the performance. During his stay in Hikkaduwa last year for a residency programme he has found out about the African communities living Puttalam and visited them. “I wanted to strengthen the voice of Afro – Sri Lankan communities in Sri Lanka and create awareness about their existence. The African heritage is dying here and I am trying to re affirm it and help them connect to their roots. Music and dance are some of the stronger elements surviving in their culture.” It was amazing and unbelievable to watch the group sing in creole and dance keeping to their African heritage. 

Comments 

Chila Kumari Isuruman – “The performance led by Samson was magnificent and out of this world. The music was similar to Garba. As a Cuban I found the dancing style very similar to my culture as well. There was a moment of vulnerability in which he exposed himself that was very moving.” 

Arianna Van Gelder – “The drums were really cool. We would have never seen it if not for this performance.” 

Ratna Sarkar – “We really loved it and enjoyed the performance thoroughly. It opens your heart.” 

Alicia Ray – “It was a very interesting performance in which he used his body and this to explore the cultural heritage.” 

Linda Jasmin Mayer – “It was very emotional and I really like it and I also found it to be a very relevant topic. It was more honest coming from an African himself.” 

Ranmal Vanderpootan – “Loved the performance that explored our African roots. Samson was also open for discussion after the performance.” 

In between performances we also spoke to Udari Samaraweera a young local artist whose art was on display. “I have been passionate about art since I was a child and am currently a student at the Academy of Design.” She had striking pieces on display for which she has used striking colours and patterns. She also told us that she found the Video Jam performances interesting. 

Later in the evening a special event curated by Shereen Perera of short films with a variety of live musical accompaniment from UK based film and music collective Video Jam took place. Hetain Patel, Imaad Majeed, Alice Dunseath, Asjavit Boyle, Vimukthi Jayasundara, Gayathri Khemadasa and Music Matters were among the many artists that performed. Each piece was a beautiful synchronization of live music, singing and rapping with a digital visual. The coordination in some of the performances were absolutely amazing. 

Comments 

Harsha Silva – “The performance by Samson was authentic as it exposed the roots of music. But I found some of the performances that were accompanied by Video Jam to be art for art's sake. It was also inaccessible for the common people who are part of the audience. It’s sad that art is sometimes class structured. The Biennale itself however is a good platform for experimentation and artists can learn from each other. It's good exposure.” 

Peter and Pepper – “We thoroughly enjoyed the performances. Found it to be very diverse and representative. It’s reflective of Sri Lanka’s past and present with nothing hidden. Artists have really expressed their views and thoughts while confronting Sri Lanka’s past. We are really happy to be here.” 

Soundarie De Alwis – “African dance was authentic and I particularly enjoyed Gayathri Khemadasa’ performance collaborating with Video Jam. It was a fantastic beginning to the biennale.” 

Artist Sumit Sarkar was also exhibiting at ZMAX on the opening night. He explores the themes of emergence and disappearance, positive and negative and destruction. He combines sculpture, photography, drawing and digital painting to create images that aim to blur the line between where the digital begins and the analogue ends. He has interesting pieces on display and was creating a digital piece live on a big screen at the event which was fascinating to watch. “It is interesting to interplay between the digital and analogue and see what the end result will be.” 

On Saturday we caught up with the Visual Arts Symposium featuring international and local artists at Nuga Gama, Cinnamon Grand Hotel moderated by Tanya Warnakulasuriya where each artist was given space to introduce their work and share their inspirations. 

One of the programmes of the Biennale that we really enjoyed was what took place in the suburbs of Slave Island titles ‘Moment of Conceiving’ a performance by Eva Priyanka – Wegener. Rooted in the multiplicity of her movement experience and practice her interests are socio-political and mind – body- spirit related. She guided us on a journey that helped us to perceive the space at that moment in time in the courtyard down Dispensary Lane in Slave Island. After which she encouraged people living in the area to voice their thoughts, hopes and dreams. 

Azra and Zuleika, two young girls still in school spoke out; “It’s a challenge being an artist and especially a woman. We don’t have the same freedom as others. Here in Slave Island we are one big family but the people outside have misunderstood us to be just some people from the slums. We have been living within Slave Island since the day we were born but had to relocate a few times as our homes are taken away for ‘development’ purposes. We also have big dreams and we want people to respect us. We have a vision of our community. First we would like the name to be changed to something else. Our suggestion is ‘Heart of the Island’. And we want our people to change the stereotype and become well educated, well-mannered and refined.” 

Ajay from Shri Arts is an activist and a businessman from Slave Island himself who is trying to create a platform for artists from the area. He is encouraging them to pursue their artistic dreams. Under his guidance Firi Rahman and Vicky have been able to grow as artists and exhibit at the Biennale and many other places. They too have a great vision of making Slave Island to be an artistic hub. 

Comments 

Chevonni – “It was a real eye opener. It was my first time exploring Slave Island and I wouldn’t have don’t it otherwise and seen this side of it. I found it be actually a very beautiful place.” 

Niroshini Amerasekera – “It was very unexpected. I have lived in Sri Lanka all my life but never visited here. I found it to be vibrant, colourful and very warm. The children here are not reserved as you think they are but very interactive.” 

Chandana De Silva – “The community here was not obvious back in the day. But today you can identify a majority of a Moors. Malays living here should also be given some prominence when renaming the place.” 

We then made our way to the book signing at the Saskia Fernando Gallery where Saskia herself was exhibiting her work titled “The Face In Your Place I & II” She explains her work to be “a series of large format paintings of faces. It is a compilation of the complete set of collages showing how I carve out a space for my own work in different places and how this transforms the artwork, the spaces and gives both new meaning.” The art work confronts the audience and we found it be very expressive and strong in sending out its message. All the proceeds from the sale of her works and publications will be donated to Building A Future Foundation, a Sri Lankan non-profit organization. 

Comments 

Anjalendran – “The artwork explores the question of identity and soon after a war it becomes a critical question. All the images explore it and of course the collection is technically competent. The book itself is superb and object of art in itself” 

A. J Poncin – “The collection has a very interesting use of collage and charcoal. It is interesting to see how she puts the pieces together.” 

Gowri – “The book is phenomenal. For me what is special about Saskia’s work is reinventing like a journey. All her work is interconnected, personal and honest and she transmit it to people who love her work.” 

Our final stop for the weekend was at CoCA Retro Party hosted by Chinthaka and Poornima at their residence where the artists where socializing and enjoying retro tunes played by Chinthaka himself. 

Photographs by Zeeshan Akram Jabeer