Looking back at Ena’s role in our artistic renaissance
“An incredibly creative mind”: Ena de Silva
This October marks the hundredth birth anniversary of Ena de Silva, a legendary figure in the revival of arts and crafts in this country. Ena passed away at the age of 92 in 2015 and architects Channa Daswatte and Amila de Mel, who had worked closely with her since the latter part of the ’80s alongside the Aluwihare Heritage Centre, are putting together a series of events to pay homage to Ena by displaying her unprecedented textile art, much of which has not been seen by the public.
The original idea was to simply exhibit Ena’s work but that evolved into also placing a spotlight on her work with the women of the Aluwihare Heritage Centre. Formerly known as the Matale Heritage Centre, it was established by Ena in the 1960s. “We have managed to carry on her work with these women who continue to make beautiful works of art,” says Amila, who has been a stalwart supporter of the centre. “Ena was the main designer and she was the mainstay behind these ladies. When she passed away they needed help to continue to work.”
The main event is an exhibition featuring original work done by Ena, her son Anil Gamini Jayasuriya, and the late artist Laki Senanayake. Displayed at the Barefoot Loft Gallery, these come from a time of artistic renaissance, in which Ena played a massive part. A highlight among these exhibits is one of the giant flags originally hung in the atrium of the Hotel Lanka Oberoi – now the Cinnamon Grand – from 1974 up until they were removed when the hotel was refurbished in 2005. The flag, which has been restored by the women of the Aluwihare Centre will be displayed in addition to personal and private pieces belonging to her family, such as sarees in batik and embroidery, and sarongs from the early 1960s.
The exhibition displays Ena’s work in the context of the art history of this country. “We felt strongly that perhaps society needed a reminder of the work that Ena has done and the contribution she made to the art history of this country,” explains Channa.
The second event will take place in the home of renowned architect C. Anjalendran, who will open it out to display what is essentially a peek into his collection of sarongs produced by Ena, as well as other objects like wall hangings purchased for his personal collection. Concurrent to the exhibit at the Barefoot Loft Gallery will be another exhibit at Rithihi, displaying a collection of Ena’s own sarees which were the talk of Colombo when she debuted them in the ’60s and ’70s.
The final event will be another Open House, this time at the De Saram House designed by Geoffrey Bawa. Set up in a way to display collections of Ena’s work, the idea is to make the space as close as possible to what it could have been, had Ena herself played a part in its design.
Having had the privilege of working alongside Ena, Channa says she “possessed an incredibly creative mind which would always think out of the box, often to the surprise of everyone around her.” Bawa valued Ena’s opinions and ideas, commissioning her work on almost every one of his projects like the Bentota Beach Hotel in 1967, where she produced a colourful batik ceiling that became the focal point of the hotel. Her ideas for the larger-than-life animals and figures can be seen at Heritance Kandalama Hotel, also designed by Bawa. “Her work is integral to the making of the space. It’s not just hung on the wall, it’s part of the architecture,” remarks Channa.
The Celebrations of Ena de Silva will take place from October 22 to November 3. Admission is free for all events. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/aluwihareheritagecentre
| Exhibition: Ena de Silva and the Making of a Sri Lankan Modern October 22– November 3 10 a.m. – 6 p.m Barefoot Loft Gallery / 8th Lane, Colombo 03 Exhibition: Ena’s Sarees October 22– November 3 10 a.m. – 6 p.m Rithihi / Alfred House Gardens Ena de Silva Sarongs & Memorabilia: View of a collection with Anjalendran October 22 and 23 Viewing times: 9.30 a.m., 11.30 a.m.,1.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. The Crooked House / Battaramulla Limited spots available, register on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ena-de-silva-sarongs-memorabilia-view-of-a-collection-with-anjalendran-tickets-432326880337 Living with Ena: In-Situ Exhibition October 29 and 30 10 a.m. – 6 p.m De Saram House – 61/6 Ward Place, Colombo 7. | |
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