The Art Eon group’s Visual Arts Exhibition under the theme of “Carnival” will be opened to the public on 18 March at 5 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery to be held on 19 and 20 March from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The exhibition will feature Harashana Kumarasiri, K.K. Teran Indika, Isuru Chaminda, Indrachapa Ruhunage, Lasantha Epasinghe, Mahesh Jayawardane, Dananjaya Rathnayake, and Kasun Indikatihewage; all of whom are students of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts. The artists have come together in a collaboration, having formed the arts circle “Art Eon”, to create and experiment with various art forms.
Themed around the “Carnival”, the exhibition focuses on the contemporary Sri Lankan socio-political and economic situation. The artists, in this chosen theme, depict to their audience a moment in time, the present that we all encounter, and how it is akin to what we relate to in a carnival, or, in other words, a spectacle. The artists’ suggestion to their audience is that the carnival is a symbolic representation of this present moment.
The collective shares that the religious and social factors of our nation have nurtured the cultural theme of the carnival throughout history and Sri Lankans have sought to adapt the carnival to the Sri Lankan context.
“Remember how you were so excited about this carnival experience? It is something you know on a personal level. Going into the carnival suggests that you are almost guaranteed the enjoyment of a variety of foods, dances, fun games, etc. to keep you entertained. The carnival is nothing more than just a vehicle for your entertainment. And this truth is understood by all who take part in it,” said the collective.
And in relating it to what we are experiencing currently, they shared: “It is a fact that Sri Lankan people do not give up entertainment in spite of social problems.” Therefore, despite whatever economic turmoil that may set the backdrop to our existence, the carnival lives on, they shared, noting that civilisation exists and is built on entertainment. Today’s Sri Lankans also queue up for entertaining carnivals or spectacles of various kinds regardless of what other things are going on around them.
The collective also posed the question of whether there are still visual arts enthusiasts in Sri Lanka. They provided that with the advent of capitalism, people have begun to embrace new lifestyles, and the spirit of human and social relationship has faded away. Moreover, they commented that cyberspace has taken over our simple lifestyles and it is now where we continue our human relations.
They expressed that in such a backdrop, it is hard to expect that people will begin to re-think visual art because their spiritual emptiness can affect their own mindsets. Therefore, this exhibition and its theme brings us back to the concept of a carnival, which can attract the people’s hearts.
The collective guaranteed that the audience is sure to have an exciting new experience, as they, the Art Eon, showcase their efforts to restore the former glory of visual art.
