Photographic Exhibition at Alliance Francaise de Kotte

“Gourmandises”, an exhibition of black and white photographs and digital colour prints by Seneka Abeyratne premiers on Wednesday 09 June 2010 at the newly established Alliance Francaise de Kotte at 139, Jawatte Road, Colombo05.

The exhibits take visitors to France’s Languedoc-Roussillon which has been described as a “different country all to itself”. The region is deeply anchored in the Mediterranean tradition but also turns to the vast Atlantic ocean, not far from Spainfrom where it receives some of its popular cultural influence.

Bathed by two seas, circled by two huge mountain ranges, the Pyrénées and the Massif central, this land is well-known for its way of living based on the consumption of local products of international reputation: wines, cheeses, patés and sea-food products such as oysters.

Cities and villages are proud of their ancient architecture and the narrow streets found in their historical centres are witnesses to a time when people knew how to shelter from the fierce burning sun or the violence of stormy winds. Today they surprise us with a glimpse into a far distant past, revisited by their contemporary occupants. These poetic images have been captured by the eye and the camera of the photographer Seneka Abeyratne.

Seneka Abeyratne is a freelance economist / international consultant with over 30 years of work experience as a researcher / policy analyst.  He has many serious hobbies including photography, digital art, modern dance (teaching / choreography), and creative writing. He is one of Sri Lanka’s leading playwrights and a winner of the top two literary awards for creative writing in English – the Gratiaen Prize and the State Literary Award.

Recently elected Vice-President of the Alliance Francaise de Kotte, “La Gourmandise” is his second photo / digital art exhibition to be held in Colombo.

This exhibition is open to the public from 10 June until 14 July 2010 from Monday to Friday and from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm each day.

The AF de Kotte is Sri Lanka’s newest French language and cultural centre serving the Colombo and Greater Colombo areas. Affiliated to the Fondation Alliance Française in Paris, it enjoys the full patronage of the Government of France and the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka.

Photo caption: Canal du Midi