humanityashore.com

by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

“In politics if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman”~ Margaret Thatcher,-Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and British politician (b: 1925-)

~The history of women’s activism in Sri Lanka is yet to be told. Male bias and male domination have silenced and erased women from the “official” histories in the same way as it has been done all over the world. But the memory of women’s activism remains in the stories that our grandmothers and other elders share with us and in the sub-texts of the official narratives of men and power.

In this year celebrating the 25 years of activism of the Women and Media Collective, we bring to you this exhibition of collective struggle by many women and women’s groups in an attempt to recover a small part of that untold and unwritten history. These stories and many more have yet to be heard in full.~

Women and Media Collective celebrated its silver jubilee recently. An anniversary exhibition “Changing Minds” by and about women was held on October 8th to 11th 2009 at Lionel Wendt and Harold Peiris Galleries in Colombo. The exhibition featured Women’s Activism, Women Photographers, Women Artists and Short Videos.

7 photographers, 16 women artists, and 7 mobile phone videographers took part in “Changing Minds”. Women and Media Collective created a space for women photographers to exhibit their work. The photos both monochrome and colour show a range of ways in which women change minds of others an others change minds of women.

Options, the English language magazine of the Women and Media Collective uniquely features women artists on its covers from 1994 to 2005. This was consciously done to profile women artists at a time when there was a little recognition of their contribution to visual culture. Some among them are part of this exhibition.

One minute mobile phone videos were shot on the theme: Changing Minds: Women and Changing Perspectives.

Participating Photographers:

Anushka Fernando, Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapthipillai, Nuzreth Jalaldeen, Sharni Jayawardena, Jayachithra Velaudaan, Sepali Kottegoda and Vidarshani Perera.

Participating Artists:

Ayodya Gunaratna, Chamari Thapaswerage, Christine Ruth, Hemamali Henakaarachchi, Manori Jayasinghe, Muditha Askin, Nilanthi Weerasekara, Nilu Kottegoda, Niluka Weerasinghe, Padma Rajapaksa, Priyanthi Anusha, Pubudu Chandima, Sajeewani Hewawitharana, Sameera Macan Marker, Vasuki Jeyashanker, and Yamuna Kumari Munasinghe.

Participating Mobile Phone Videographers:

Charith Jayathilake, Palitha Attanayake, Waruna Perera, Deva Priya Halathuduwa, Feroza Niyaz Shabeer, Shirani Weerasinghe and Diyodi Menon.

Members of WMC and guests lighted the oil lamp at the colourful inaugural ceremony:

Indrani Iriyagolla

Ashoka Lankathilake, Western Provincial Council member – Chief guest

Dr.Neela Gunasekera, Director, National Committee on Women

Mangala Randeniya, Assistant Director of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment

Sarvam Kailasapathy

Chandragutha Thenuwara

Chandrika, Westren Provincial Council Member

Jezima Ismail

Professor Swarna Jeyaweera

Dr. Anita Nesiah

Tulin Abeysekera

Rev.Sister Emmaculate

Audry Ruberra

Sumika Perera

Damayanthi Kottegoda

Nimalaka Fernando

Stella Philip

Kumudini Samuel

Dr.Sepali Kottegoda

The Executive Director of Women and Media Collective Kumudini Samuel

The Women and Media Collective is a women’s organisation which aims to bring about change based on feminist principles for a society free from violence which would pave the way for a balanced representation of women in decision-making and governance, and advocate for non-discriminatory laws and policies.

Photographs by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapthipillai on display at the exhibition marking the 25th anniversary of WMC

Showcasing the milestones of Women and Media Collective

Women and Media Collective was formed in 1984 by a group of Sri Lankan feminists interested in exploring in conceptual and practical issues of concern to women in Sri Lanka

Sanjeewani Hewawitharana paints ad makes objects using techniques labled “female work” such as lace making and crocheting

Yamuna Kumari Munasinghe paints what she observes when traveling to Colombo form the suburb of Panadura

Women and media Collective conducts research and work with more than 75 women’s groups from all over the country

Women and Media Collective publishes Options (English, Sol (Tamil) and Aya (Sinhala)

“Untitled” by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapthipillai

“Thaappaattam” by Jayachithra Velaudan

Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapthipillai is a self-taught photojournalist

A creation of the Pacific and Asian Women’s Forum -Women’s Creativity Workshop held in December 1985
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HumanityAshore.org ~ Email: dushi.pillai@gmail.com