Promoting cohesion through art
As throngs of people walked past photographs displaying powerful images of that day in July at the Viharamahadevi Open Air Theatre, recently – several of them took a minute to ponder at the displays put togehter under the title ‘No More July’ which was no ordinary show of art.“Our aim was for people to replace the horrific image of Black July with a peaceful one,” explained Event Manager, Randhula De Silva. “What we want is to grab the attention of people, and to think about defeating racism and promote cohesion amongst communities.”
The event saw an amalgamation of performing art acts as well as a photography exhibition that resonated powerful messages. Many of those who were present shared the view that the time had come for Sri Lanka to replace the void left by violence with compassion. Artistes like Layla Gonaduwa felt that mediums such as art hold great power in shaping perspectives and that positive images needed to be passed down to the younger generations.
The event was attended by a cross-section of people of all ages. Artiste Viraj Liyanarachchi said the concept was not to evoke memories of Black July but rather to ensure that such horrors were not repeated. “Although many of the organisers do not have clear memories of Black July we are all on the same page that we must not let there be another,” he tells us. “The most important thing about the event is that nobody wants to know if the other is a Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim. The only thing that matters is that we have the same ideals.”
Kalpa Rajapakse, 26, who had his photographs on dispaly hoped that his work would help people understand that the world today is commoditised, as he urged people to break free from it. A few metres away, right at the middle of the Open Air Theatre was a meat shop. As we stare at the three chunks of meat -slightly gobsmacked at artiste Janaka Illangaratna’s representation of the problem at hand. He explains that the three chunks of meat labelled under three races was what would remain if a war was waged against each other. Paththini Kannaki, who presented a photography exhibition with an anthropological approach by Malathie De Alwis was up on show depicting many of the Hindu festivals and rituals around the country.
This was followed by photography exhibitions by Viraj Liyanarachchi, Tharindu Amunugama, Nayanhari and ‘Boru Kakul saha Boru Kakul’, a demostration by Pala Pothupitiya. All eyes were grabbed by Bandu Manamperi as he donned an outfit of firecrackers and went on to walk through the audience, stopping at the edges of the theatre, shredding pieces of the dress off and setting the firecrackers alight. A musical show went on into the night with performances by Kumari Kumaragame, Silani Thumara, RZ Omar, Imaad Majeed, Indrachapa Liyanage, Ajith Kumarasiri, Isuru Kumarasinghe, Skitzo and Paranoid Earthling.
The evening’s moving images and thought provoking displays together with powerful lyrics and moving rhythms set about stamping themes of peace and coexistence among those present. Pix by Amila Gamage
