Barbara Sansoni Honoured

Barbara
Source: Daily Island, December 12, 2016.

University of the Visual and Performing Arts awarded Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree to the Kalasuri Barbara Sansoni Lewcock in the 9th Convocation held at the BMICH on Dec. 08, more about 2016.

Prof. Sarath Chandrajeewa Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, UVPA presenting the citation said:

“I consider it a great privilege and an honour to present to you in this august Convocation Barbara Sansoni Lewcock, an internationally recognized icon in the cultural and wearable art field of Sri Lanka, for the conferment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

“She is versatile with diverse capacities. She has excelled as a Colourist, Illustrator, Painter, Fashion designer and a writer. Barbara Sansoni Lewcock is the founder of Barefoot, which was started in 1964 and the chief designer of the same. It is an organization which employs Sri Lankan women, teaching them hand skill to develop their cognitive powers in colourful weaving on handlooms. Following are her own words:

“I have always been drawing what caught my eyes. It was Dr. R.L. Spittel who advised me never to be without a sketch book in hand. … My entire source of inspiration has been this Island. Travelling all over I have been overwhelmed by its wonder, inspired by its colour. Design emerges from one’s daily life; it has for me…. Everything changes with light, between monsoons. Nothing is so magical as a tropical twilight, as natural light fades and artificial light comes on. The colours in the celestial hemisphere are unbelievable.”

“Barbara Sansoni Lewcock is an internationally recognized authority on Sri Lankan textile design industry and wearable art. She has exhibited her works at major galleries all over the world and had participated in many international exhibitions representing Sri Lanka. She is the author of many publications, including her own illustrations in them. She had been a UNDP craft advisor and a resident in the West Indies for two years and had marveled at the colour and beauty of the Island and its people. She has won many scholarships and awards including the Presidential Award (Kalasuri) in Sri Lanka.

“Therefore, I am honoured to present to you Kalasuri Barbara Sansoni Lewcock for the conferment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in accordance with the nomination made by the Senate and graciously endorsed by the council of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts.”

Barbara’s life and achievements at a glance
(Compiled by Prof. Chandrajeewa Based on Information provided from Dominic Sansoni – CEO, Barefoot, Colombo):

1928 – Born in Kandy Sri Lanka on 22nd April

1945 – Studied in Presentation Convent, Kodaikanal, India, at age 6, later final year at St.

Bridget’s Convent Colombo, Sri Lanka.

1946 – Drawing practice under the guidence of Professor Amarasinghe and Painter Mr. J.D.A. Perera.

1947 – 1952 – Studied Art at the Regent Street Polytechnic Art School in London.

1952 – Married Hildon Claude Sansoni (who died in 1979).

1964 – Founded ‘Barefoot’ a wearable art company at 704, Galle road, Colombo 03.

1983 – Married Dr. Ronald Lewcock (Architect, Conservater and Scholar)

DRAWINGS AND WRITINGS

1961 / 62 – Published articles in Ceylon Daily Mirror ‘Collecting Old Buildings’ which was done with Ulrik Plesner, under the name ‘Simon & Claude’.

Wrote Society Column – Reviews of Theatre, Art Exhibitions – Ceylon Daily Mirror

‘Missy Fu’ stories published in Ceylon Daily Mirror ‘Notes on old furniture Of Ceylon’ – Times of Ceylon Annual 1962

1963 – ‘Leila’s Road’ – Observer Pictorial

1965 – ‘Sketches of the Kandy Perahera’ – Times of Ceylon Annual 1965

1966 -‘A look at what they built in Ceylon’- Times of Ceylon Annual 1966

1978 – Published a book – ‘Vihares and Verandas’ with drawings by Mrs. Barbara Sansoni and scholarly text by Dr.R.B. Lewcock. On the basis of this publication, received two grants from UNESCO and The Asia Foundation, to do measured drawings of these buildings.

1980 – ‘An Essay by a citizen of Colombo’ Published in the Economic Review of April.

1986 – ‘Nutrition calendar 1986’ for Astra Magarine product of Lever Bros. Ceylon Ltd.

1986 – Wrote foreword – Geoffrey Bawa’s Book (Publication, MIMAR)

1998 – Publication of: ‘Architecture of an Island’ Published by Barefoot (Pvt) Ltd. With 96 illustrated drawings and text by Dr. R. B. Lewcock.

2002 – Publication of a book for children ‘Missy Fu and Tikkiri Banda’- published by Barefoot (Pvt) Ltd.

2003 – Publication of a book of verse and illustrations ‘Press with the Toes in the Grass’ published by Barefoot (Pvt) Ltd.

2007 – Published (Second Edition)–‘Vihares and Verandas’ with drawings by Mrs. Barbara Sansoni and scholarly text by Dr. R. B. Lewcock

2014 – Publication and exhibition launch of ‘A Passion for Faces’ July.

2015 – Publication of ‘Missy Fu in Yala’ – Published by Barefoot Pvt Ltd

SCULPTURE

1963 – 14 Stations of the Cross – Psalm of the Good Shepherd for the Good Shepherd Chapel, Bandarawela. Six panels, each 7’ wide in clay. Near life-size figure (in the round) of the Risen Christ.

FILMS

Of our workshops and work villages, and the exhibition in London – filmed by Pathe for Commonwealth Relations office and shown in Commonwealth countries.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

1966 – Hand-woven Textiles, Ceylon Tea Centre, Regents Street, London, U.K.

1969 – Hand-woven textiles, Ceylon Tea Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark.

1971 – Fashion show in Barbara Sansoni Handlooms, Oslo, Norway.

1977 – Hand-woven textiles – Joshua Taylor, Cambridge, U.K.

1978 – Hand-woven panels + constructions, Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, U.K.

1978 – Hand-woven Textiles, British Council Centre, London, U.K.

1982 – Hand-woven panels + constructions, Clare Hall, Cambridge, U.K.

1982 – Georgia Institute of Technology-College of Architecture, Atlanta, U.S.A.

1986 – ‘Lines and Colour’ pen, ink and water colour at the Barefoot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

1989 – Open Studio Festival of Arts mixed media, Cambridge, U.K.

1991- ‘Faces, Races & Architectural Devices’- Water colour, pen, ink and woven panels, British Council, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

1994 – Pen, ink, water colour & etching at the Barefoot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

1995 – Broughton House Gallery, Cambridge, U.K.

1997 – Broughton House Gallery, Cambridge, U.K.

1998 – Broughton House Gallery, Cambridge, U.K.

1999 – Hand-woven panels, Broughton House Gallery, Cambridge, U.K.

2001- Woven Hangings, Exhibition, Cambridge, U.K.

2002 – Woven Hangings Exhibition, Liverpool, U.K.

2004 – Woven Hangings, Exhibition – celebrating 40 years of design, colour and weaving, Barefoot Gallery, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

HAND WOVEN FABRIC DESIGN FASHION SHOW

1981- September, La Ronda, Hong Kong.

FOREIGN EXHIBITIONS AS PART OF A NATIONAL EXHIBITION

1969 – Tehran.

1970 – Expo ’70, Canada.

1971- Poland.

1972 – Stockholm.

1978 – New York.

1980 – Berne, Switzerland.

1980 – Frankfurt.

1984 – Australia.

1985 – August, Holland.

1985 – September, Canada.

2002 – July to September, University of Liverpool Art Gallery, U.K.

2006 – March to April, ‘Threading the Commonwealth’ Textile exhibition RMIT Gallery, Melbourne, Australia.

SCHOLARSHIPS, APPOINTMENTS AND AWARDS

1970 – Guest of the British Council in England for a fortnight to meet with leading British craftsmen.

1970 – J. D. Rockefeller III, Travel Award.

Visited 14 countries to study craft and folk art for 2 years.

1974 – 75 – I.L.O. Textile Advisor in St. Lucia, West Indies, as part of craft Caribbean project.

1984 – Sri Lanka Presidential Award for exports from Sri Lanka.

1985 – Award by the Export Development Council of Ministers, for creditable export performance.

1987 – Award for Zonta Woman of Achievement.

1998 – Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (1997) from the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

2005 – ‘Kala Shuri’ Honorary Award, from the President of Sri Lanka.

2011 – The 2010/2011 Geoffrey Bawa Award for contribution for architecture.

COMMISSIONS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS

1983 – Altar cloth and vestments for St. Botolphus Church, Aldgate, U.K.

1983 – Space Hangings to fill space of 02 floors for Liberty Plaza Shopping And Residential Complex in Colombo. (12 Hangings in sequence). Sri Lanka

1984 – 56 Banners for the new Bank of Ceylon Headquarters in Colombo. Sri Lanka.

1985 – 12 Banners for CIAS Lounge, Airport, Singapore – For Team 3 of Singapore.

1986 – Altar Cloth for Mrs. Allen, U.K.

1996 – Altar cloth for visit of Pope to Sri Lanka.