Sunday Times 2
Paintings express a million nuanced things
The usually dim-lit and forbidding foyer and staircase of the American Center had been imbued with colour that February evening. Paintings were hanging from the foyer up to the library. Their creators, young and talented artists, were standing under them- each one under his/her work.
These artists were all undergraduates from the University of Visual and Performing Arts. The exhibition, a joint venture of the American Center and the university, was entitled: “Elimination of Violence against Women.”
The idea for this exhibition came during 2014′s Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender based Violence. These 16 days are annually celebrated from November 25 to December 10. It was during this period in 2014 that the American Center and the university came together.
What was being exhibited at the American Center in February was the very cream of that larger exhibition of November which had featured a number of other media apart from paintings. Held at the J.D.A. Perera Gallery in Horton Place, that exhibition had been a great success.
As I ‘did the round’ at the American Center exhibition I was impressed by how diversely the artists had depicted the theme of violence practised against women. It was not only sexual harassment; and it was not only lamentations and moaning.
There was much in the paintings by way of liberation and hope- just as much as there was depiction of women suffering in various contexts. It was quite an eye-opener of an exhibition especially because the paintings said a million nuanced things words could never have expressed.
The invited diplomats as well as well-wishers and friends of the artists, were evidently impressed by the paintings which gave wings, not food, for thought, being capable of moving us onto a new awareness.
Speaking at the occasion, Andrew Mann, Chargé d’ Affaires ad Interim at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, stressed the importance of spreading the word about stopping women being harassed. He praised the artists highly.
Canapés with cake and tea was served afterwards- allowing the young artists, diplomats and other invitees to mingle freely after an evening that had provided illumination through art.