Vihares and Verandas: Barbara Sansoni’s Magnum Opus-by Michael Roberts Exif_JPEG_420 ………. “Lions from inner wall of PADENIYA TEMPLE” …. Source:Thuppahis Most versions of this set of amateur reproductions are due to the work done by David Sansoni on amateur mobile-camera pictures taken by Michael Roberts; but the first ‘snap’ of the lion frieze is by Roberts at his Thuppahi worst. A short memo at the end of this production written by the late Laki Senanayake (who passed away on the 20th May 2021) indicates that Barbara’s etchings commenced in 1962 as one aspect of a larger work with Ulrich Plesner and Ismeth Raheem. So it best to commence this set of limited illustrations by presenting tha MEMO because it is capped by a miniature sketch of the shrine room at Embekke Devale in Barbara’s hand. ...
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Barbara Sansoni: Shades of a pioneer-By David Robson Her own style of drawing: The Jaffna Kitchen by Barbara Source:Sundaytimes In April, Barbara Sansoni died at her home in Colombo, a few minutes after her 94th birthday. She was the last surviving member of a pioneering group of creative designers and makers, among them Bevis and Geoffrey Bawa, Ena de Silva and Laki Senanayake, who were born during the final decades of the British colonial period and sprang forth like uncoiled springs after Ceylon regained its independence. She was born in Kandy, the daughter of Rex and Bertha Daniel. Her father was a Government Agent in the Ceylon Civil Service and the family lived in a series of colonial bungalows in different parts of Ceylon. Her mother was a Van Langenberg, the sister of arts impresario Arthur Van Langenberg, and she grew up in that carefree Burgher milieu that Michael Ondaatje ...
May 5, 2022
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Tagged Ena de Silva, Geoffrey Bawa, Hildon Sansoni, Laki Senanayake
Barbara Sansoni – a unique person-by Nan Source:Island “My entire source of inspiration has been this Island. Traveling all over I have been overwhelmed by its wonder, inspired by its colour. Design emerges from one’s daily life; it has for me.” I quote Barbara Sansoni from an interview with her just prior to an exhibition of her abstract art which was billed: “Celebrating 40 years of design, colour and weaving linking us with the Abstract Modern Movement of the Twentieth Century.” The article I subsequently wrote appeared in this column on the second Sunday of December 2004. Barbara Sansoni Lewcock died last week, on April 23, a day after her 94th birthday. Many Sri Lankans, to whom Barbara is a household name, will join her family in mourning her death. But she lived a long, full and happy life surrounded by all things bright and beautiful. There is no room for ...
May 3, 2022
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Tagged Barbara Sansoni, Hildon Sansoni, Laki Senanayake, Ulrik Plesner
Disce aut Discede – by Gamini Seneviratne Source: Island Form-mates, classmates perhaps in Mr. J E V Pieris’s IA, I seem to recall also the ‘J’ in J Godwin Perera. His reminiscences of those times past are indeed welcome. What follows here are some additions / amendments. Given the heading used by Godwin and repeated here, the first of them must surely be the third option that completes that quote: Caedi (be caned). Looking back from present times, a very mild option, one would say. I was caned only once, by Mr. Bob Edwards: he had forgotten what my supposed misdemeanor was and I couldn’t tell him why I was there as I had ceased to know what it was. Godwin’s mentioned the Senior Lit. and the Best Speaker’s prize. I was never involved in the first and had a spectacular spell at the second. I forget what the subject was but the ...
Nov 9, 2020
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Tagged J E V Pieris, Laki Senanayake, Mr. Mendis, Punyadasa Edussuriya, Tyrell Mutthiah
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Seeking to Contact – Amahl Siriwardena Looking to contact Amahl Siriwardena, son of well-known Regi Siri the arts and political commentator in Cbo in the 70s to the 90s? He was a few years our junior. If you know, and if you know his contacts, do please let me know. Thank you so much. I asked Regi’s artistic mate in Ena de Silva’s batiks, Laki Senanayake, but he has no clue. Laki is now running that unique small boutique hotel in Dambulle called Diya Bubula. Gives me the impression therefore that Amahl Must be away from SL. Any clues? There still should be surviving friends of Regi Siri around. Thanks and bye !____________________Prasanna. ...
Oct 11, 2020
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SEEKING TO CONTACT
Tagged Amahl Siriwardena, Ena de Silva’s batiks, Laki Senanayake
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