The beginning of ‘Seven Artists’

Sri Lanka has a long history of art and architecture especially Jaffna also has a strong history of it but it is struggle to keep and maintain the art culture because of the structure of our society. The art education still active in the universities and schools for the purposes of competitions and get a job with the degree. Basically the public do not have art knowledge to taste artworks the same time they do not have a good platform to see the artworks. And ‘being artist’ is just an ‘imagine’ in this peninsula.

In this condition some of us (passed out from university of Jaffna) who had thirst in our mind ‘to be an artist’ gathered together and created a group as ‘Seven Artists’ and being active now. Most of us keep practicing and exhibit in Sri Lanka.The same time we participate art festivals and residencies too. Our goal is to be role models of our society and the next generation.

Especially as the other part of this lack we got a public space (Cargils Square) in Jaffna with the support of Jeeva Perumalpillai and the management of Cargils for display. At the space we install the artworks including copy works, digital art, crafts, contemporary paintings, drawings and sculptures. Here we give chances for new art graduates and some local artists to display their works.  The space is well known for the cinema theatre, ice cream parlor, and specially KFC chicken.  All the people around the city visit to the place for celebrate their parties and watch the movies. The same time they have a look the artworks and make questions about the artists and the background of the group. And the artists sell their works to them after the shows. What we found a bit concerning is their approach mostly the kids are fascinated by the artworks and they make their parents to collect them. Followed by the parents ask to take classes for their kids and let them to continue the art practices.  Now we can feel the smell of the art scene. It is really a good beginning to build up art culture and fix it with public….