It was a privilege to meet Dr Ghada here for the ‘SHILPA ABHIMANI 2017’, The International Crafts Council and Presidential Awards Handicrafts Competition and Exhibition which was held at the BMICH last week. The Chief Guest, President Maithripala Sirisena presented the awards to deserving craftsmen from all over Sri Lanka. Dr Ghada is the current President of The World Crafts Council Asia Pacific Region, and it was interesting to talk to her about her work in this sphere. We took a stroll back through history which certainly enhanced my knowledge about the birth of trade between her part of the world and our nation, as she spoke.
“Did you know that it was in the 8th century that traders from the Arab world first came to Ceylon in search of your gems, said to be the finest in the world. Then again, in the 13th century they started coming in search of your handicrafts, traditional embroidery and so on. So your country and our region have had a particularly close and privileged acquaintance through the passage of time, which has been left untouched by our internal problems.”
How did you begin your interest in this field? Was it always a part of your life?
“I did my degree in the History of Islamic Art and Architecture. But, actually I owe my membership in the World’s Art Council Pacific Region to a Sri Lankan lady , who is a worldwide icon in this field, Siva Obeysekera. I am deeply appreciative of this gesture and am visiting her before I leave. I first met her at a conference where I made a presentation. She made it a point to come up to me later and insisted that I join this Council, of which I am now the President. This is my second visit here; the first was in 2010 at her invitation. She was the President of the World Crafts Council from 1992 to 1996 and The President of the World Crafts Council Asia Pacific from 1997 to 2000. ”
Siva can be called the Mother of Handicrafts in Sri Lanka. It was she who first promoted our crafts here and worldwide, and it was through her dedication and commitment that we gained international recognition. I’m glad that her daughter Chantal is following her mother in promoting handicrafts and is also a devoted daughter who looks after her mother.
Can you tell me something about the World Crafts Council Pacific Region of which you are the President?
“ It is a great honour for me to be President of this organization. The historical background of this organization goes back to 1964, when the World Crafts Council was founded as a non-governmental, nonprofit organization at an international meeting at The University of Columbia, New York, USA, by three ladies, Ms Aileen Osborn Vande built Web, Mrs Margaret Merwin Patch and Srimati Kamaldevi Chattopadhay. Their mission was to bring crafts and craftspeople into the mainstream of life, to elevate the status of crafts, which is a vital part of a country’s national cultural heritage and to meet the aspirations of craftspeople all over the world. This began in the US but has now expanded into five daughter organizations, Africa, the Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America. The main objectives are, to strengthen the cultural, social and economic status of crafts and craftspeople, promote interaction and fellowship among craftspeople and help them with advice and encouragement so as to improve their socio-economic conditions and thus their lifestyles through income generating activities. They also provide information platforms to crafts committees.”
How do you achieve these most worthy objectives?
“As our mission is to preserve and develop traditional handicrafts and ensure their status as a vital part of each country, we foster craftspeople to help them to meet their aspirations of elevating their socio-economic conditions. We have to ensure the status of crafts as a vital part of the cultural life of the people and promote human values inherited by them.We strengthen and maintain the status of crafts as a medium of artistic expression. We try to revive languishing crafts and inspire their producers to try new, modern, creative and innovative forms. We give craftspeople technical assistance with training courses, workshops. exchange visits, lectures, seminars, research, exhibitions and tours. We recognize their work and have established a network of crafts information exchange to ensure that craftspeople are in constant communication with each other.”
What do you think of the SHILPA exhibition at which you were a distinguished visitor this year?
“I was amazed at the high standards achieved and the fresh ideas brought in by the young chairperson, Heshani Bogollagama, encouraged by the Minister Rishard Baduideen and his deputy, Champika Premadasa. It is good to find that Heshani has begun, together with the Ministry of Education to start classes to enthuse interest in crafts in schools. This is the right way, to plant the seeds of interest in young minds . I also heard that disabled service personnel here, are being taught these crafts. These crafts would die unless there is a genuine, and sincere effort as is being done now to interest children and disabled people who will find new avenues of interest, which in turn would enrich their lives, when they find that they too are doing something to contribute to the country. I think the exhibition was a fantastic event, which is a credit to your beautiful country. I found more creativity, it was more innovative, while keeping the traditional spirit.
“It is important that traditional crafts have to be maintained, while keeping modern trends in mind, which will help in selling these products abroad. I feel we must introduce more platforms to help exchange ideas, learn from each other, improve knowledge and also build bridges of friendship which will last forever, through arts and crafts. It was the first time here too that there was an international flavour with stalls with exhibits from other countries.”
Craftspeople in the Asia Pacific Region are fortunate to have Ghada with her vast reservoir of knowledge in their field as their present Head. She travels this road like a beacon of light which restores spirits and lifts the morale with her enthusiasm to promote their crafts and enrich their lives.