Cube and colour: Barefoot team’s passion on show
“What Barefoot does best is colour and proportion. Our beautiful, clear and simple colour schemes and the geometric patterns they follow are what defines us,” said Jane Conrad, Design Coordinator at Barefoot. Quite natural then, that their newest exhibition is titled ‘Cube and Colour’-a collection of weavings and patchwork from the Barefoot Design team and a retrospective of Barbara Sansoni-Lewcock’s textiles sculptures.
 Jane Conrad discusses the exhibition at a news conference. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara |
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The team is celebrating a much-awaited comeback into the exhibition arena. Breaking the tradition of what used to be an almost-annual event, they last showed to the public about five years ago. There were many reasons in the mix for the hiatus, say the designers, but they couldn’t be more thrilled to be back on home turf taking a break from their positions of authority within the Barefoot team to just kick back and do what they love the best: Create.
Showcasing their ‘therapy’ at Cube and Colour are some Barefoot legends and well known creative professionals. Dominic Sansoni, internationally renowned for his colourful photography and at the helm of Barefoot following his mother’s lead is one such artist featured. Seasoned Barefoot designers Nelun Harasgama, Preethi Hapuwatte and Marie Gnanaraj’s passionate love for handloom and patchwork also manifests itself in their creations for the exhibition.
Niloufer Victoria, Manager at Barefoot by day steps away from her corporate duties to present her pieces, exactly what she needs when she wants to clear her head from the pressures of management. Irish-born Shaunagh Aluwihare’s patchwork pieces exhibit her growth as a designer who can work outside the discipline of dressmaking and her careful attention to detail. Gnei Raseen’s sewing expertise is in the patchwork garments she creates. And finally, Dunyasha Victoria, the young designer and ‘Barefoot baby’, also showcases her work alongside the others.
Cube and Colour also pays homage to the beautifully intricate textile sculptures of Barbara Sansoni, Barefoot’s leading lady. Over 40 years ago, a young Barbara was invited to design cloth for young Sri Lankan women who had limited schooling and skills-weaving was part of their rehabilitation programme. This was the stepping stone for Barefoot, and the company now has three shops in Sri Lanka and exports textiles worldwide.
A small team of dedicated designers headed by Barbara’s son Dominic Sansoni work in collaboration with dyers, weavers and skilled sewers to produce a small number of high-quality garments.
Each designer has worked through their own media, but the end result is an absolutely gorgeous collection of patchwork masterpieces. Some will be made available for sale and some won’t, but as far as the designers themselves are concerned it has nothing to do with the selling and everything to do with the joy of creating purely for others’ delight and their own.
Keeping to the Barefoot philosophy of keeping things bright, clean-cut and fun, they’ve produced some beautiful creations, a welcome sight for those tired of Colombo’s everyday fashion. Cube and Colour is now on and continues till October 7 at the Barefoot Gallery Colombo. The exhibition is open from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Sunday.
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