Changing scenes: From traditional to handlooms on canvas
Sculptures were in demand this time. Pix by Indika Handuwala
The organisers of Kala Pola announced that art worth over Rs. 13 million had been sold last year on the day of the fair, not including all the art sold after the event. Last Sunday saw another Kala Pola organised by the George Keyt Foundation and supported by John Keells Holdings take place on the pavements of Green Path ( Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha), Colombo 3 and it was the usual lively crowd that meandered through the stalls.
So how effective had it been for the artists this year? Professional chef Kapila Priyantha, who calls painting his second profession noted that his smaller acrylic paintings were selling faster than the bigger ones. Ishan Senaka, a full-time artist who paints with oils and watercolours, exhibited his work at Kala Pola for the second time. Explaining that his sales were good this year, he added that he also felt that he made important connections through the fair which helped him sell his art last time, something he hopes will happen this year as well.
Many artists this year had chosen to create representations of ancient Sri Lankan temple and cave paintings. Aloka Bandara, who paints on wood felt that his sales have been good this year – the eighth time he is selling his art at the fair. He usually gets business on the day of Kala Pola and through the connections he makes. Buddhika Sampath’s paintings drawn freehand on a predominantly white background, the simple design juxtaposed against the white background had an interesting feel to it. Buddhika had good business this year – adding that he usually has sales on the day of Kala Pola and even afterwards through the connections made.
An unusual collection which could be seen at the pola were handloom and batik fabrics on a frame. Done by art teacher Shyamala Pinto Jayawardena as part of her collection of handlooms called Shylooms, she had designed the weaves as a part of her own personal collection which she then gave to weavers to create. These weaves are what she had put on a frame. A newcomer to Kala Pola, her art seemed to evoke mixed reactions. While some people loved the idea and took to it immediately, others seemed hesitant to accept the idea of handloom on a canvas. Shyamala’s daughter Sasha explained that a positive reaction isn’t the only thing which artists look for. “This is a new thing and people don’t always think new is good, and I think it will take time for them to warm up to the idea of handloom on a wall,” she said, adding that there were still quite a few interested buyers.
Confirming her stance that unusual art takes time to catch on was Priyantha Mudalige, who sells framed wood carvings. Sales this year have been rather poor. He makes these interesting carvings by carving the statue, and fixing wood behind it piece by piece to look like a naturally occurring carving. Priyantha feels that although that his fortunes change from time to time, this year they seem rather dismal.
Kala Pola: Families and art enthusiasts were all there at Green Path to enjoy different expressions of art on display
Sculptures made of metals and copper joined together seem to have moved from unusual and misunderstood to somewhat well accepted. Niranga Rupasinghe Muthugala who sold this ‘assembled’ art at Kala Pola said his sales were very good this year. Usually they don’t sell as fast as paintings and selling a few pieces is considered favourable. Niranga had sold three pieces – including a horse for Rs. 10 lakhs.He feels that he gets business on the day of Kala Pola as well as after the fair through the contacts he makes during the fair.
Disagreeing with the notion that artists must suffer for their art was Mohan Senadeera. An artist who has come to Kala Pola almost from the start, his sales have been good as usual. He says that the trick is in understanding the market. He sells many small, bright and colourful paintings – something that moves very fast. In his opinion, artists need to understand the market in order to surive. “Nathan thiinthatika arang gedara apahuyanna thamai wenne (We will otherwise have to take our paint and go home)”.