Hikkaduwa to experience cultural explosion with ‘Moving Beyond’

‘Moving Beyond’ is the latest event created by Sura Medura International Artists Residency in Hikkaduwa. Five artists in residence from England and Scotland will come to together on Friday 24 March from 4 p.m. onwards at Sunbeach Hotel, Hikkaduwa to put on a display of their learnings during their six-week residency in Sri Lanka.

Supported by UZ Arts, Arts Council England and Creative Scotland the artists have been traveling across Sri Lanka and working in and around Hikkaduwa to create this exciting exhibition and performances.

‘Labyrinth Z’ is a project built to celebrate confusion and disorientation, and how these can bring shifts of perspective by artist Zoe Katsilerou. This project is inspired by the themes and experiences that unite humans. The audience will be led to the centre of the labyrinth and discover Zoe’s finale performance

Joshua Sofaer performing artist will present an intimate performance lecture and will talk about his experiences through a participative artwork. “In the UK, we think of ourselves as a nation of tea drinkers. I love a good cup of tea. I have been using this trip to Sri Lanka to understand more about where the breakfast tea in my cup in London comes from, to learn about its history, and how the tea industry has transformed Sri Lanka,” Joshua noted. For Moving Beyond Mary Genis creates Masquerade and movement, the rebuilding and recycling of culture, a metaphor to misappropriation, the process of destruction and reconstruction, a perspective of protest expressed with abundance inspired by the nature of Sri Lanka; all that is not carnival. Mary produces performs and makes costumes through her own British company that creates carnival parades and steel pan bands and orchestras.

Ross Whyte will present his work of art through an audio experience aptly titled ‘Degrees of Separation’. The track comprises a selection of sounds gathered during his time in Sri Lanka. “The track – and the installation – is an impressionistic audio response to my encounters in Sri Lanka. Particularly the melodies, timbres, and rhythms of the Sinhalese language will be a key feature of the ‘Degrees of Separation’ installation,” Ross confirmed.

Over the course of six weeks Lewis Sherlock has performed in the street; through markets, in bus stations and even in the sea. He makes extraordinarily weird shapes to surprise and delight the locals going about their day. You know what they say mad dogs and Englishmen. His performance for Moving Beyond will be inspired by this experience.

Neil Butler is Artistic Director and Chief Executive of UZ Arts. He has been visiting Sri Lanka since 1991 and started creating arts events in the Hikkaduwa area in 2002. Neil established Sura Medura as a residency for international artists to be inspired by the people, culture and geography of Sri Lanka. Over the past four years Sura Medura has created a series of events often working with local artists and students of the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo. Neil has worked with Colombo Art Biennale in various roles – as artist, curator and director.

There will be a limited number of free places in a bus leaving Colombo at noon and returning by midnight on Friday 24 March. Call Moving Beyond Hotline 0776867815 to reserve your place.

Visit www.suramedura.com and read about artists’ experiences during residency.