Day And Beyond

Day and Beyond opened on 22 May

noreply@blogger.com (Jagath Dheerasekara) — Sat, 24 May 2008 19:37:00 +0000

Public view 22 ~ 31 May

Exhibition plan at the Alliance Française Auditorium

noreply@blogger.com (Jagath Dheerasekara) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:35:00 +0000

Over the concrete wall by Ratnananthan Aroodguhan, 26 yrs (Jaffna)

noreply@blogger.com (DKitty) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:42:00 +0000

Profile

Gughan was born in Jaffna. At an early age, he joined the cub-scouts and then went on to join the scouts of St. John’s College, Jaffna. This resulted in him going on venture journeys that started off his interest in photography and nature amongst other things. The year 2000 opened up a new chapter in his life, as he came to settle down in Colombo. He got an opportunity to put into practice his interest in photography and nature when Sri Lanka Telecom and Field Ornithology Group Sri Lanka started the Sinharaja Conservation Awareness Program. Gughan’s interests lie in the expression of freedom through visual art.

Concept

City life has narrowed our lives into the space within walls. Most of the time, we are inattentive to the numerous things happening around us in our absence (and sometimes even in our presence). My environment is always very busy. I observe the road that leads to the building where my apartment is. The road wakes up, stays active and then finally goes to sleep. This body of work is a narrative of that space.

Lives of pets by Dinali Cooray, 27 yrs (Colombo)

noreply@blogger.com (DKitty) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:43:00 +0000

Profile

Dinali spent a large part of her early and adolescent life in Bahrain. Following her Ordinary Level Examinations, she returned to Sri Lanka and now lives in Nugegoda with her mother. Dinali has always been fascinated by the beauty of creation. One of her childhood dreams has been to build an animal shelter to provide shelter, love and affection to the animals abused and mistreated by humans, who should be their very ‘guardians’. She is interested in photographing animals and nature to try to bring out their innocence and the beauty and wonder of the very simple things of nature all around her. Her other areas of interest lie in writing, playing the guitar and ballroom dancing.

Concept

I grew up with pets, and therefore, they have taken up a considerable space in my life. I spend a fair amount of time with them. They spend their time exploring their surroundings, playing, eating, cuddling together and sleeping. Having grown up together for eight years, they share a special relationship and are quite oblivious to the differences between cats and dogs - they are content to eat together and play together. These beautiful creatures seem so fragile, trusting and innocent, and are totally dependent on us for shelter, food as well as love and affection.

My son by Niroshana De Silva, 32 yrs (Embilipitiya)

noreply@blogger.com (DKitty) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:36:00 +0000

Profile

Niroshana’s personal interests include traveling around the country. Niroshana is married, with one son, Lehan who was the inspiration for this photography project. Lehan is 4 years old and will be schooling next year. Niroshana's wife, Shiranthi, is a housewife. He longs to make his family “his day” and move everything else to "beyond the day". His main area of interest in photography is documentary and he is interested in listening to music and playing drums.

Concept

My son is my world. He is a cute and a very active kid, who has marked his presence all over, with very colourful designs on every wall. Sometimes he wants to be with everyone, playing, singing, chatting, while at other times, he wants to be alone. When he is at grandma’s place, near the lake, at the playground, or with his friends, he does not feel tired at all, and he doesn't want to sleep unless he accidentally falls asleep. I attempted exploring his activities in these different spaces.

Beauty and ugliness by Sisira Gintotage, 38 yrs (Matara)

noreply@blogger.com (GUGHAN JOSHUA) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:10:00 +0000

Profile

Sisira is a professional photographer, who has been in the field of photography for 25 years. He is married and his wife works at the Coconut Development Authority. He has an 8 year old son. His area of interest in photography lies mainly in landscape photography, although he also undertakes wedding photography. He is an active member of the National Photographic Art Society of Sri Lanka. He aspires to move with technology and move into other areas of photography such as documentary.

Concept

Being an island, the blue waters surrounding Sri Lanka’s landscape further enrich her unique beauty. However, the negative attitudes and lack of initiative towards maintaining a healthy and clean environment, has resulted in increased pollution in our beaches. At the beach near my home, beauty and ugliness co-exist or are forced to do so - beauty of nature and ugliness of the produce of human activities.

Fisherman's life by Thushantha Vidanage, 35 yrs (Panadura)

noreply@blogger.com (GUGHAN JOSHUA) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 04:56:00 +0000

Profile

Thushantha has been in the video industry for over 15 years. He undertakes videoing and photography of weddings , however, his interest lies mostly in documentary photography. He is married and is the father of 2 sons - 6 and 4 yrs old and his wife is a Pre-school teacher. His interests are reading material on video editing, animations, computer graphics etc to gain more insight and knowledge into his area of work.

Concept

I witnessed how fishermen tumble against the waves in making a living. Some do this solely for survival, simply with the intention of having a plate of food on their table. Others go as far as daring to dream, and attempt to fulfill their dreams, and venture beyond simply surviving. Therefore, the life story of a fisherman is more often than not, very sad, demanding, tough and challenging. I clicked against this harshness, searching high and low for something that would bring some gentleness to this roughness.

Daham Pasala by Neville M Gamage, 52 yrs (Galle)

noreply@blogger.com (GUGHAN JOSHUA) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:55:00 +0000

Profile

Neville is married, with 2 daughters and 2 sons. He really started to learn photography upon joining the 'Day and Beyond' Project. The photographs were taken at the Daham Pasala which his children attend. Neville’s main interest lies in documentary photography. He likes to spend most of his free time together with his family.

Concept

Daham Pasala has been at the heart of Buddhist education for generations. I too have attended the classes of Daham Pasala to which my children go now. I go there taking them and fetching them back home. Daham Pasala is a different place. Children present themselves in white. Calmness in appearance and behaviour is expected and thus prevails, blending with the tranquility inherent in a temple.

Spider Web by Muditha Adikari, 44 yrs (Pannipitiya)

noreply@blogger.com (GUGHAN JOSHUA) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:55:00 +0000

Profile

Muditha is a videographer with 20 years of experience. Prior to joining Sri Lanka Telecom, he was employed at Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation as a videographer for 3 years. He works as a wedding photographer as well. His hobbies and interests lie in landscape videography. His innate interest in visual art and photography dragged him into the project, 'Day and Beyond'. Muditha is married and he has a daughter studying at Sujatha Vidyalaya and a son studying at Pannipitiya Dharmapala Vidyalaya. His wife is currently working at Ceylon Electricity Board. His vision for his career is to move into newer areas of photography.

Concept

The spider, after spinning its web, will then wait, on or near the web for a prey to get trapped in it. The spider web is a highly mechanical and wonderful construction and it is a very interesting object of art to observe and study. When its web is broken by the wind, the spider will then try to build a fresh web in harmony with what is found in the surrounding environment like a surface, a leaf etc. The struggle of the spider in the frequent rebuilding of its web in different designs each time is a beautiful and awe-inspiring process to witness.

Getting Ready by Harshana Henarath, 26 yrs (Kurunegala)

noreply@blogger.com (GUGHAN JOSHUA) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:55:00 +0000

Profile

Harshana’s hometown is in Kurunegala and he studied at Maliyadewa Model School, Kurunegala. He is currently boarded at Rajagiriya. His favourite past time is watching movies and listening to music. Harshana’s interest in photography started only recently with the Day and Beyond photo project.

Concept

Even in the usual flow of things, before any activity, “getting ready” is an essential prerequisite. The daily life experience is full of “getting ready” prerequisites. Anywhere and everywhere the concept of “getting ready” exists – getting ready to go to work, for meals, for a bath, for exams, for an outing etc. In each instance, it is a “preparatory” process. At the time of “getting ready”, we sometimes tend to be busy, rushed and tensed while at other times, we are more relaxed, calm and unhurried.

Life beyond home by Chandima Dharmadasa, 27 yrs (Kandy)

noreply@blogger.com (GUGHAN JOSHUA) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:53:00 +0000

Profile

Chandima’s hometown is Kandy. His interest in photography began whilst at school and this lead him to join the Photography Society of Dharmaraja College, Kandy, where he studied. However, his participation was limited since he was of the opinion that they did not share his interests and views on photography. He aspires to master this art through knowledge gained from the internet, books as well as the guidance of other photographers. His interests in life include listening to music and traveling.

Concept

I am a boarder in Colombo away from home. Most who are employed in Colombo, were born and bred in villages and small towns outside of Colombo, and have come to the city in search of jobs. Once in Colombo, they have a hard time in meeting their basic day-to-day requirements such as food and lodging. My essay focuses on a cluster of people who are boarded at a boarding house which is in the same building where I too am. This place provides only lodging facilities. The boarders need to find their own food. Most of the boarders living here are white collar workers. During the day time, the place is quite deserted, tranquil and quiet. The opposite is true during the night time. The place then fills with voices and sounds of the boarders who have returned to their lodging place after a long and tiring day at work.

Cell animals by Vajira Hapuhinna, 33 yrs (Hanguranketha)

noreply@blogger.com (GUGHAN JOSHUA) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:24:00 +0000

Profile

Vajira’s interest in photography began when he started a course in graphic designing. The 'Day and Beyond' project has stimulated his interest in photography and he now wishes to continue with it. Vajira is married and he has a 2 year old daughter. His wife is also an employee of Sri Lanka Telecom. He likes to spend his free time with his family. Vajira’s vision in life is to become a professional graphic designer one day.

Concept

Some animals are locked up in cages in zoos though they have not committed any criminal acts. I call them cell animals. People watch and jeer at them. Animals who are supposed to be in the great outdoors and belong in the wild are sentenced to life in cells. People seem to enjoy watching them being imprisoned. All that these creatures can do is to simply look on, for they have got no place to run or hide. These animals seem fed up and used to their mundane way of life. Even though they are alive, they look lifeless to me.