The Aluwihare Heritage Centre will hold a series of events to mark the birth centenary of Ena De Silva whose explorations of batik and embroidery established a new artistic paradigm for Sri Lankan textiles at Barefoot Loft Gallery, Rithihi, the De Saram house and the residence of architect C. Anjalendran.
Events will take place until November 3. Admission for all events is free and open to everyone from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The main exhibition ‘Ena de Silva and the Making of a Sri Lankan Modern’ displays rare and exquisite originals by Ena and her collaborators across the two main principal agents of her practice, Batik and Embroidery, while highlighting many of their origins to better understand her work and its significance to the art history of Sri Lanka.
Many of these objects are being seen for the first time and carefully curated by Ena’s life-long friends and collaborators Amila de Mel and Channa Daswatte. The exhibits will be on display at the Barefoot Gallery in Colombo 3. Concurrently, an exhibition of ‘Ena’s Sarees’ will be on display at Rithihi, Alfred House Gardens, Colombo 3. Paying homage to true South Asian culture and fashion, Ena designed and produced a number of sarees for family and friends over the years.
Architect C.Anjalendran will present his collection of Ena-designed sarongs and memorabilia at his residence in Battaramulla today.
The de Saram house will showcase homeware crafted through traditional techniques of batik and embroidery by the Aluwihare Heritage Centre under the theme ‘Living with Ena’ on the weekend of October 29 and 30, at Ward place, Colombo 7.
