Commemorating Ena Aluwihare de Silva’s 100th birthday

Many architects and artists worked with the Aluwihare Heritage Centre which Ena set up in her ancestral home, to commemorate her 100th birth anniversary. She wanted to serve her village by employing many of the area, passing her artistic skills to them. They created batik and embroidered household linen, saris, blouses, sarongs and shirts. A foundry was opened by her so brass artifacts were made; a pottery workshop to turn out clay pots and suchlike. A display of these was held in several venues in Colombo.

The commemorative days (some exhibitions from 22 October to November 3) started with the Preview held at Barefoot Gallery on Saturday October 22, when Ismeth Rahim’s son and Archt. Channa Daswatte spoke of Ena, her life and work. Male and female models displayed her clothes ranging from batik and embroidered saris to sarongs, shirts and beach wear. The pouring rain did not spoil the event, though the models had to walk holding umbrellas.

On Saturday I went to the Crooked House in Battaramulla where Archt C Anjalendran had on display his collection of Ena sarongs – a truly vast and most exotic collection. He also spoke on Ena to those gathered at the time scheduled – her life and contribution to the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka

Rithi displayed her batik saris, which unfortunately I could not visit. But I spent time walking around in the Loft of Barefoot feasting my eyes on a vast array of Ena’s art work by her and the workers of Aluwihare. There were a couple of marvellously sewn saris with batilk and embroidered borders and panels, to be worn Kandyan style. Remembered were pictures of Ena exotically dressed captured by camera and included in Rajiva Wijesinghe’s edited coffee table book – Gilding the Lily.

Included in the Barefoot display were purses and of all sizes and design – embroidered. Also bags, table cloths, cushion covers and a large clay pot exquisitely designed over in white.These celebrations, commemoration and exhibition of what she produced or directed her workers in Aluwihare to turn out, being open to the public was an excellent gesture of remembering with gratitude a truly great artist of this country.

Ena was born in Aluwihare on October 23, 1922. She died in her ancestral home on September 29, 2015. She most definitely was a lily that needed no gilding; no enhancement. She was a elegant lady that radiated real beauty, that surpassed all in dress and elegance; who needed not to toil, but worked tirelessly improving the lives of others by creating beauty – gilding so many hotels, homes and people with her exquisite creations. Such a Sri Lankan should be celebrated and remembered for long years to come, as was done this last week.

Nanda Pethiyagoda