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Magazine |
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Moulding life
into art It was fresher
Anneke Hiltermaan's third lesson in sculpture at the Sapumal Foundation,
and she was making good progress by the look of it. "I have
never done art before, but I hope to be an artist some day,"
she smiles. The co-ordination is not so simple, says she of her
three dimensional piece, "It is difficult to do with your hands
what you want to do in your head." Working on
two dimensional heads of Greek Gods were Ella Huesken and Tineke
Roholl, also from Holland. "I enjoy it very much. However,
it is much more difficult than you think, especially the expressions,"
Ella remarks, although she feels fortunate to have an experienced
teacher like Dr. Sarath Chandrajeewa. The Sapumal
Foundation in Colombo 7 has been offering classes in sculpture besides
drawing and painting since September 2002, in addition to their
art classes for children. The good news about the sculpture classes
for those aged 16 and above is that no previous knowledge of art
is required. While it caters to school leavers and others interested
in art, it would also prove to be beneficial to architectural students. Students in
small batches follow a detailed module comprising of 10 levels,
each level having 12 lessons of three hours each. They are taught
to model various parts of the human anatomy, animal anatomy, portrait
sculptures in 3-D and relief, buildings, vehicles, antiques, landscapes
etc. Starting with
the basics of identifying modelling techniques and materials and
how to make different types of armatures, students progress into
abstract and semi-abstract forms in clay and transforming methods
of plaster models. They are encouraged to visit parks and museums
to study nature, its different forms and other artifacts. Techniques
and principles taught for drawing are used in this medium. Students
initially work with synthetic clay to get their fingers trained
and hardened. In time they use natural clay, cement and gypsum blocks
and make their own moulds and plaster cast. Knives, kidney tools,
iron cables, modelling stands and armatures are used. Sculptured
faces need to reveal expression. Towards this, a step by step procedure
for moulding eyes and expression, nose and then the mouth are detailed.
The end of the course would see them making life size figures. At
that stage, should they wish to work on a project, students can
work on a composition that consists of two to three figures. "Every
person has an inherent talent that needs to be developed and nurtured,"
says Dr. Sarath Chandrajeewa of this fascinating medium, that most
people enjoy as you get to work with your hands using mud, clay
and water. This former head of the Institute of Aesthetic Studies
and former director of the Institute is a visiting Professor at
the foundation. Having received
his Ph.D from Moscow, Dr. Chandrajeewa currently lectures in Fine
Arts at the Kelaniya University. His work has been exhibited several
times, the most recent being his exhibition of 100 portraits featuring
prominent people in Sri Lanka. Others who
teach at the foundation include Prof. Albert Dharmasiri (drawing
and painting) and Manoranjana Herath. Tissa Ranasinghe, an academic
from London also contributes to the course. Tushma Perera,
after completing her O/Ls and A/Ls in art from St. Bridget's Convent
intends to teach art in the future. "There are not many people
who conduct classes in sculpture in Sri Lanka. I am really fortunate
to have enrolled here," she says. Walking into the serene surroundings of Sapumal, you come across housewives, Buddhist monks and others who aspire to create works of art, making you want to try it yourself. Who can tell? There may be an artist in you! |
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features
emerged, the curve of the brow and angle of cheekbones giving expression
to the sculpted form.
