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Semage gives life and colour to the dasa raja Dharma
By Dhananjani Silva

The veteran artist puts finishing touches to the pandal.

Kalasuri Jayasiri Semage, is getting ready to celebrate the forthcoming Vesak festival on a grand note –this being the 2550 Buddha Jayanthi year.
The veteran artist has embarked on a special mission this Vesak season to design, paint and erect a Vesak pandal depicting the dasa raja dharma.
The pandal is a gift to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the Chairman of Nawaloka Group of Companies, Deshabandu H. K. Dharmadasa.

Based on creations of ancient architecture of the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods, Semage uses traditional designs such as the sun and moon, liyavel, liyapota and hansapoottu to adorn the 11 frames of this gigantic pandal which is to be erected near Parliament.

According to Semage, about 30,000 bulbs will adorn the pandal for which the electrical designs are done by A. B. Ariyadasa. “This is an unusual pandal as it presents the dasa raja dharma. Most of the other pandals narrate Jathaka tales.

History records prosperous times when the country was ruled according to this dasa raja dharma which was preached by Lord Buddha to all the kings and His disciples. Lord Buddha taught the kings how they should rule the country with the guidance of dasa raja dharma.

The significance to President Rajapaksa is that he too is a follower of the concept of dasa raja dharma,” Semage explained. “It took me about two months to paint this pandal and special oil colours were used for the designs,” he said.

Fifty feet tall and 55 feet wide, the pandal depicts the world engulfed by fire at the bottom and on top is a statue of Lord Buddha putting out the flames with holy water. Semage has designed and erected over 50 pandals both in Sri Lanka and abroad.

Ideal cards for Sambuddha Jayanthi 2550
Buddhist monks sometimes used a 'jangama vihara' (mobile vihara) when they preached a sermon in a place away from the temple. The mobile vihara had colourful paintings depicting the Buddha's life. The Buddha was prominent in the paintings, thus creating 'saddha' in the minds of the devotees.

Designed in the form of a little cupboard with doors adorned with paintings too, the mobile vihara could be easily moved from place to place. Before the sermon began, it would be opened and displayed, thereby creating a mini-temple atmosphere.

A mobile vihara found in the Nagolla Raja Maha Vihara, close to Kurunegala belonging to the 18th century depicts the 'soovisi vivaranaya' - the Bodhisatva receiving benediction from the 24 Buddhas. This is among renowned photographer Gamini Jayasinghe's collection of temple murals in his forthcoming book 'Sri Lankan Buddhist Art - Post-Classical Revival' devoted to the Kandyan school of painting.

He has also selected it for use in one of 20 special greeting cards released by Sarvodaya Vishva Lekha to commemorate the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi 2550 during Vesak this year.

At a time when meaningless illustrations including pictures of film stars are used in Vesak greeting cards, these cards set a new standard. They are colourful and pleasing to the eye, yet meaningful and form a fine collection of the 18th & 19th century temple murals. Of the 20 cards, ten are from the Kandyan period temples while the other ten are from the Kelaniya frescoes, picked from 'The Glory of Kelaniya Murals', Gamini's third publication in the series 'Sri Lankan Buddhist Art'. The text in these Vishva Lekha publications is by journalist D.B. Kappagoda.

Another form of temple murals photographed by Gamini is the 'pethikada' - paintings done on cloth. These are found in ancient temples and are not generally displayed. The monks prefer to keep them rolled up and stacked for safety, taking them out only on special occasions.

The monks had the habit of taking these for 'bana' preachings and displaying them before the audience. The cards depict selected murals from Raja Maha Viharas at Rangiri Dambulla, Talava at Marassana, Kinihirikanda, Bambaragala, Lankatilaka and Ridi Vihara. The cards with the Kelaniya temple murals have been done as a tribute to the celebrated painter Soliyas Mendis. This set of cards is a fitting memento of the celebrated occasion commemorating the 2550th year of the passing away of the Buddha and well deserves the backing of those interested in sending greetings cards for the occasion.

A cultural feast from Alliance Francaise
By Tharangani Perera
In May and June, the Alliance Française will celebrate the intrinsic richness of cultural diversity in music, theatre and cinema through its Cultural Programme. The programme will comprise three main elements: “Fête de la Musique”, “Italian Cycle” by the Ciné Club and “Monsieur et Madame O”, a French mime play.

“Fête de la Musique” celebrates cultural links between countries and people through reciprocal passion for music. It takes place each year on June 21, the day of summer solstice and welcomes the participation of amateurs and professionals from various age groups.

The main event of the evening will be a school choir competition at Colombo’s New Town Hall, to be judged by amateur musicians. Thereafter, amateurs and semi-professionals will alternate on an open stage, where they may play a musical instrument, sing or dance. Throughout the evening, music professionals will perform live. Meanwhile a multimedia tour of Fête de la Musique will be organized in Paris, which will enable Parisians to enjoy the live images of the musical celebrations in Sri Lanka and many countries around the world.

Every Wednesday evening at 6.30 p.m., the Ciné Club at Alliance Française presents a new French film with English subtitles, after which a discussion takes place within the friendly atmosphere of the cafeteria.
Each month, the films are chosen according to a certain theme.

The theme for the month of May is symbolic of the promotion of European culture as it will represent French acting talent in Italian cinema. On May 29 at the Bishop’s College Auditorium Colombo, Alliance Française will present a new trend in French theatrical arts- a play without words named “Monsieur et Madame O”. It has been inspired by many different artistic styles such as mime, contemporary dance, circus and even comic book art. Although the overall tone of the play is quite humorous, it reflects universal themes such as marriage, heaviness of old habits, routine and social conventions.

Barefoot brings exotic touch to Galle Fort
Barefoot’s new branch in the Galle Fort, on the corner of Pedlar and Church Street is now open, making a colourful addition to Fort life.
The delightful building brilliantly renovated by Channa Daswatte, was bought by Dominic Sansoni in 2003 with a vague notion of opening a shop or a home. Lucky for visitors, a shop it is.

The restored premises is charm personified, with a narrow corridor at the back of the building which can be used as an escape route, a perfect courtyard open to sky and stars ideal for sitting in and viewing paintings on the wall.

The riotous colour that is synonymous with Barefoot is vividly present. Here one can expect to see items carefully chosen with the building, space and visitor in mind. Sarongs, silk scarves, linen, cushion covers, tablemats and napkins, sun hats, bags, toys are all beautifully arranged for the taking. Victor, the manager, is the perfect host for the shop.

Aside from the signature Barefoot products known world over for their juxtaposition of colour and rectilinear design - all the other elements of the Colombo shop are here: The familiar paintings are hanging on the walls, the excellent coffee table books focusing on Sri Lanka and Style; and novels by Sri Lankans. Even, the possibility of opening a café, is in place.

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