The Journey of Content: Instagram Unplugged IRL
We are discussing a photograph. It was taken by the camera of a smartphone. It has been viewed by thousands, engaged with by hundreds, and is now being exhibited at the Saskia…
Arts and Theatre
In conversation with Thaji Dias
The gifted Thaji Dias is the Principal Dancer of the Chithrasena Dance Company. We begin our conversation, unsurprisingly, by getting Thaji to recall her first memories of dance, given the family and…
Pusswedilla is a Trojan Horse
We have grown to either love or hate the Pusswedilla franchise. Most relish it as high (even low) entertainment with the added thrill of political parody. Some dismiss it as poor satire….
Kerosene, Koothu and Paper: Questions and answers
On Sunday, 19 October 2014 the Sri Lanka Archive of Contemporary Art, Architecture & Design screened, for the first time in Jaffna, three short films by Kannan Arunasalam. Kerosene, Koothu and Paper were produced…
In conversation with Ruhanie Perera: Politics, Space and Theatre in Sri Lanka
Ruhanie Perera is a founding member of the Floating Space theatre company, based in Sri Lanka. has both featured and reviewed compelling productions by Floating Space and directed by Ruhanie. We begin by…
Terror, Performance and Anxieties of Our Times: Reading Rustom Bharucha and Reliving Terror
( by Rustom Bharucha (2014). Tulika Books, New Delhi; ISBN 978-93-82381-37-2; pp. xvi; 250. INR 695.00 Approaching terror When I started reading Rustom Bharucha’s latest book, Terror and Performance, it immediately became…
Colombo International Film Festival: Six Days That Would Change Your World
It is possible that one may find my title to be exaggerated: this is not the first time that we are hearing the words ‘international film festival’ in a Sri Lankan context….
Review of ‘Walking Path’by Stages Theatre Group
Photo courtesy Stages Theatre Group It is a ‘must see’ play which is a bold and insightful critique on the rapidly changing landscape of Colombo. It describes the good, the bad, the ugly…
Invisible architectures: Thoughts on Walking Path
Franz Kafka, ‘Beyond the Law’ Designed and directed by Jayampathi Guruge and scripted by Ruwanthie de Chickera, ‘Walking Path’, performed recently at the Lionel Wendt offered an interesting critique of Colombo’s post-war…
“Walking Path” – A play without words
A play without words is a risky proposition. Why would a theatrical production abandon one of the most powerful tools at its disposal? In a performative audio-visual medium like theatre words can…
In conversation with Eshantha Peiris
Eshantha Peiris is currently a principal conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka, co-director of the Old Joes Choir, and director of Contempo Choir, in addition to being the keyboardist of…
In conversation with Gihan de Chickera: Cartoons, politics and theatre
Gihan de Chickera, who I’ve known since our halcyon days at S. Thomas’, is an actor, with experience in both stage and film productions, though perhaps even more loved and followed for…
THE MASTER: GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ
Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images, via Huffington Post – From ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Gabriel Jose Garcia Marquez the writer par excellence has died. He was born…
In conversation with Lakshman Joseph de Saram
Lakshman Joseph de Saram is an internationally acclaimed Film Composer, classical musician & Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Society of Colombo. We begin our conversation by looking at Lakshman’s childhood –…
Groundviews featured at Colombo Art Biennale and Colomboscope 2014
Some photos from venues in the city that are part of the Colombo Art Biennale 2014, taken on 31st January 2014. Venues included the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, JDA Perera Gallery, Lionel Wendt…