Street Artists
2006.04.02
Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha is the avenue of Art in Colombo. The Public Library, Viharamahadevi Park, National Art Gallery, John De Silva Theatre and the National Theatre (still under construction) is on this short, shaded, beautiful road.
On weekends, it is also the gallery for Colombo’s street artists.
Every Saturday and Sunday, The Fine Arts undergrads of the University of Aesthetic Studies bring their paintings to sell on the road. Selling their art is the only way to finance their expenses for most of these students, and some of them even have to support their families with the pittance they earn. Most of their buyers know how desperate they are, so bargaining is common. If one is to go there on a Sunday evening when they are most willing to cut down on prices, and one is the kind of asshole who wouldn’t mind exploiting them, “great deals” are waiting to be made.
One of those artists, Sanjaya Seneviratne, is having his first exhibition in a real gallery these days: “Gates” at the Lionel Wendt. Funny how on the very weekend Sanjaya comes out from the street to a gallery, the street is glorified. The George Keyt Foundation held the annual “Kala Pola” (Art Fair) today, down Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha. At first glance, it’s a pretty sight: paintings stacked along the road, a wide array of styles and themes, a flurry of colours.
However, the reality is closer to what happens here every weekend: the artists are at the mercy of bargaining buyers. I was too pissed off to enjoy any art after hearing one woman asking a painting for Rs.1500 (USD 15). The artist, a girl, probably one from the University, was too shocked to say anything. I’m sure she had to spend more than that for the canvas and paint.
If the George Keyt Foundation really needs to uplift Sri Lankan artists, I think a good first step would be to try getting them off the street.
2 Comments
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Dilantha
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:25 am
I’ve seen these paintings on the road. I saw a bit of a guy talking about people barginaning for art on art-eke on sirasa I think.
Yes a lot needs to be done here. It’s at least a start for us to talk about it so that galleries and foundations can get to know about these people.
Asela
April 3rd, 2006 at 3:38 pm
I wonder why she wanted a painting after all :D