The buzz of Colomboscope will soon be on
New venues for Colomboscope: The Public Library garden and left, SNAFU on Kynsey Road
Colombo will be the artistic hub from January 19-28 as a series of exciting events unfolds with Colomboscope, the interdisciplinary art festival that has served as a creative platform for many over the last 10 years since its first edition in 2013.
The festival celebrates its eighth edition this year with a series of events – endearingly termed ‘mushroomings’ - such as exhibitions, performances, workshops and much more involving over 40 local and international artists.
This year’s theme ‘Way of the Forest’ centres around rekindling knowledge of interdependence, custodianship, and restorative practices across environs and weaves narratives around how repressed history turns to myth and lore when what was real becomes illusive.
SNAFU Project will be home to a series of artist encounters with sessions that provide insight into the ongoing arc of artistic thinking and research behind the projects in Way of the Forest. Here, one can find artists Shiraz Bayjoo, Fernando Garcia-Dory, Monica de Miranda, Subas Tamang and Muge Yilmaz discussing their connection to botanical histories, agroforestry, and gardening as spaces of learning, as well as anti-colonial legacies concerning today’s ecopolitical challenges.
Another session features artists Soma Surovi Jannat, Tamarra Jayasundera, Pushpakanthan Pakkiyarajah and Anoma Wijewardene who will talk about environmental justice, literature, and how they draw on inspiration from ecologies in their midst.
The festival will also have many interactive workshops like one with Dhanushka Jayanetti which peels back layers of the hidden fungal kingdom and provides a glimpse into the secret life of fungi as unsung heroes of biodiversity. Another workshop titled ‘Conversations with the Forest Gods’, will be facilitated by Parrotfish Collective, a group of conservation professionals and wildlife enthusiasts turned conservation communicators, which will introduce participants to urgent conservation issues while extending an invitation to reimagine the forest through nature worship practices that prevailed in the past.
In a residency showcase and talk at Goethe-Institut titled ‘Shared Tides’, the connection of shared waters, language, cuisine, cultures, art, and dance forms between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka will be explored by diving into their long, shared history. Socially conscious poets, rappers, beatmakers, and lively bands will perform original material at KACHA KACHA, bringing a different perspective to current socio-political realities through this platform that allows for uncensored expression.
A creation by Fernando Garcia-Dory
The more active individual can also engage in a few excursions during the day and at night with walks facilitated by Small Cat Advocacy and Research (SCAR). On an educational trail within the Baddegana Wetland Park, artist Firi Rahman will help foster a better understanding of urban habitats and wildlife around Colombo’s wetlands while introducing the conservation work of SCAR.
One also has the opportunity to engage in a night-time excursion at Thalangama Lake to explore the wetland habitat while looking for the elusive fishing cat, all the while learning about the ethics of nighttime wildlife viewing.
The 10-day festival will also have interactive performances such as a musical collaboration by Nairobi-based DJ and filmmaker Coco Em who will be joined by Swiss artist, DJ and producer, Ka (ra) mi. There will also be a live electronic music act and audiovisual collaboration involving Nigel Perera and Asvajit, experienced practitioners of the form.
In addition to these, screenings of films reflecting the theme of the festival will be held at Goethe-Institut. The J. D. A. Gallery and Barefoot Gallery will also have exclusive exhibition tours of the artwork of the artists involved in the festival.
Colomboscope 2024 will take place from January 19 to 28. The full schedule of Colomboscope 2024 listing the dates and times of all events can be viewed at https://www.colomboscope.lk/way-of-the-forest
Prior registration is required for all events due to limited capacity.
| Colomboscope 2024 programme | |
January 19-28
J. D. A. Perera Gallery and Barefoot Gallery Friday, January 19
SNAFU Project / 3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Public Library Garden / 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Saturday, January 20
Beddagana Wetland Park / 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
(Workshop for children) Barefoot Gallery / 10 a.m. to 12 noon
(Zine-making workshop with BLAK C.O.R.E and The Packet) SNAFU Project / 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
(Work-in-progress performance by Venuri Perera and Eisa Jocson) BMICH Kamatha Open Theatre / 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
(NORIENT with Coco Em and Ka(ra)mi) SNAFU Project / 8 p.m. to midnight Sunday, January 21
(Residency showcase and talk) Goethe-Institut / 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Goethe-Institut / 2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Goethe-Institut / 4 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Government Service Sports Club / 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday, January 22
(Workshop with Cecilia Moo) J. D. A. Perera Gallery / 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
SNAFU Project / 5 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
(Women Warriors Reclaim the Earth) Goethe-Institut Garden / 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, January 23
(Creation-workshop ritual with Eisa Jocson and Venuri Perera) BMICH Kamatha Open Theatre / 11 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
(Workshop with Cecilia Moo) J. D. A. Perera Gallery / 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
(Reading group with Anya Ratnayaka) The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka / 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
(Ghost 2561-2565) Goethe-Institut Garden / 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, January 24
(Traces of the vanishing forest) Goethe-Institut Garden / 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, January 25
(Workshop with Parrotfish Collective) SNAFU Project / 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(Workshop with Dhanushka Jayanetti) SNAFU Project / 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, January 26
(Workshop with Parrotfish Collective) SNAFU Project / 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(Workshop with Nahla Al Tabbaa) Ranbath Organic / 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
(Release and live listening experience of Episode #5) SNAFU Project / 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Thalangama Lake / 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, January 27
(Collective of Contemporary Artists – Symbiosis Activation) CocA – Symbiosis Art Space / 10 a.m. to 12 noon
(Workshop with Sign Network LK) Barefoot / 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
(Workshop with Nahla Al Tabbaa) Ranbath Organic / 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
(Audio-visual showcase) SNAFU Project / 8 p.m. to midnight
(Nature drawing workshop with Karunasiri Wijesinghe) Public Library Garden / 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Diyasaru Wetland Park / 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. |
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