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By Cheranka Mendis
Art transcends beyond boundaries. It creates and builds not only things of beauty, but entire thought processes – fashioning cultures, leading revolutions, constructing spaces for individuals, societies and nations to grow and prosper.
Art is a powerful and unique tool, illustrating the kaleidoscopic emotions, realities and at times, the 
fantasies of the human mind.
The theme
With the theme of ‘Making History,’ the third installation of Colombo Art Biennale 2014, a.k.a. CAB kicked off its 10-day program yesterday with installations in seven locations – JDA Perera Gallery, Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, Post Graduate Institute of Archeology, Goethe Institut, Park Street Mews, Lionel Wendt and Harold Pieries Galleries and Museum of Economic Development, CAB conversations, live art moments and a Trekurious Literary Dinner.
The theme ‘Making History,’ around which some 60 artists built their work, is said to be a provocation exploring the artistic adventure of making history. It enquires into the contemporary aesthetic experience, from historical, present and future points of view, to reveal a possible reality of making history as part of an art historical trajectory.
A non-profit organisation supporting contemporary art in Sri Lanka, CAB in its previous installations chose timely topics such as ‘Imagining Peace’ and ‘Becoming’ – natural progression from the previous to address the state of affairs in the new and developing Sri Lanka.
International participation
CAB Founder and Director Annoushka Hempel expressing delight on the interest and attention CAB has generated noted that artists and artist collectives from 15 countries have gathered together with some of Sri Lanka’s most recognised, established and emerging artists.
With a 50-50 ratio of international and local artists, the overseas participants include those from Britain, Scotland, Germany, Austria, France, Sweden, Italy, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Qatar, China, Iran and the USA.
artistic talent can be seen, recognised and appreciated both by national and international community,” Hempel said at the preview opening of CAB on Thursday.
Across the seven different venues around Colombo, interested parties will be able to enjoy a wide range of contemporary art in various mediums including paintings, sculpture, installations, new media and sound art. In addition, this year includes an all new exciting live art component to the biennale.
A number of fringe events such as exhibitions, numerous social events that are guaranteed to be fun and entertaining are held in conjunction with the biennale.
The Scotland experience
CAB is curated by Neil Butler, Ruhanie Perera and Amit Kumar Jain.
Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Butler drew experience from his own country to illustrate the role of art in forming cultures and nations.
Scotland has over the last two or three decades placed enormous focus on the work of its artists and promoted its culture, he said. “They worked very hard to win an accolade in 1990 called European City of Culture. The reason they were nominated for this title is that they had enormous pride in their culture and artists.”
This went on to become a benchmark and a way for other cities across Europe to understand how the work of artists and cultural community can have an enormous impact on self worth, self esteem, of the city and country, and a powerful way of communicating the culture of that country both nationally and internationally.”
Connecting artists from around the world
Having been travelling to Sri Lanka over the last 15 years, Butler noted that an international residency scheme has been formed, whereby artists are invited to work in Sri Lanka, while Lankan artists are encouraged to work abroad.
“One of the most important features of CAB is its promotion of Sri Lankan art, artists and culture,” Butler said. “Artists have a very special place in the culture of the country, and through the work they make they represent, they place emphasis on the works of the community in terms of dialogue, to say how they see the world.”
For him, part of the importance of CAB is the way it acts as a platform drawing together artists and putting them in an international context where their work is seen alongside other artists coming from other countries.
“On the other side, it is a privilege for artist to come to this country and leave a mark here,” he added, explaining: “The scheme that I am involved with brings artists from across Europe, and they work here for six weeks or longer and make work that is influenced by their interaction with the people of the country and the environment. In doing so, they also understand more about themselves.”
He himself never felt what it means to be European outside of Europe. “It is a very interesting and important experience for an artist to come from one culture to another to discover what their own identity is.”
This in the context of the theme of ‘Making History’ means understanding where we come from, understanding our identity, talking about it critically, finding ways of expressing it, finding ways where artists not only employ paint, drawing and do installation work, but also include performance, dance, chorography, sound and other areas.
“The (Biennale) work is not only for the enthusiastic art lover who would come to galleries to explore it, but we wish for art to go where the people are, where they confront it in, in everyday life.”
Lessons from German: Berlin wall and its artistic inspiration
German Ambassador in Sri Lanka Dr. Juergen Morhard went on to explain how a symbol of Cold War and oppressive Soviet Regime, the Berlin Wall, went on to become an important piece of art from the physical barrier between East and West Berlin in the 1960s.
“The famous Berlin Wall, since it fell down, becomes in itself a reminder in the heart of Berlin, the basis of art. The process leading to the fall of the wall is considered nowadays as part and parcel of German culture and has stimulated creativity, spirit and solidarity among the people after the Cold War,” Morhard said. Thus, the entire political process and the downfall of the wall turned in to art.
Creating identity in development
Morhard acknowledged that a remarkable transformation can be seen in Colombo today. Through ongoing constructions, renovations and beautification, it draws attention to its potential through both old and new buildings.
Even public spaces such as railway stations and pedestrian crossings are easily forgotten, swiftly ignored; but they too are important habitats for citizens which could be used as art.
“For any city that is modernising, it must try to become a special place – place to visit, explore, invest,” Morhard added. “It is important to develop a special spirit that is distinctive to the city.” On the whole, art and culture gives the city its specific atmosphere that draws people, makes it exciting and gives a sense of conviction through art.
“CAB can make an important contribution to develop a very distinctive individual flavour that is the atmosphere of Colombo and make it known as a city where young and modern art and culture can thrive.”
Art for destination marketing
Art plays a key role in marketing the destination as a contemporary country as well.
Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Head of Brand Marketing and John Keells Holdings Vice President Dileep Mudadeniya stressed that there exists a number of classic examples from around the world such as the Icehotel in Sweden which proves the success of modern art in promoting destinations.
“The role which art plays in contemporary Sri Lanka is significant,” Mudadeniya said, even though in most cases, the role art can play in destination marketing is underestimated. “The role of art in destination marketing is very significant and it is an option that people are looking for. It is a clientele that is looking for a sense of place.”
Sri Lanka can, through the mileage generated from CAB, take contemporary art in destination marketing to the next level, he said.
Pix by Daminda Harsha Perera and Upul Abayasekara
