Goethe-Institute celebrates Golden Jubilee with several programmes

COLOMBO: The Goethe-Institute,the German Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year with several programmes year-round.

Sri Lanka considers the coming of Arahat Mahinda Thera and the introduction of Theravada Buddhism to this land between 250-210 BC, as the most epochal event in her long history. Bearing this in mind the Institute commenced conducting programmes based on Buddhism and Culture from February this year and will continue to the end of December. These programmes will be held in Colombo and the outskirts.

A film and slides presentation by Beat Presser, a reputed Swiss photographer coupled with the book launch of his "Oasis of Silence" on February 22 kicked off the programmes.

Beat Presser's work presented the result of many years of travel through Asian countries, where Theravada Buddhism is practised. His intention was to aesthetically depict "the spirit" of monastic life, which he described as an oasis of silence. Hence, the title of his book.

A photo-exhibition of his work took place at Barefoot in February. His photography is a goal-directed,aesthetic approach to visually exemplify topics, increasingly those related to intercultural exchange, proposing an "inside perspective" of the daily practice of Buddhism.

The artwork is a mirror of today's living Theravada,a message conveyed by a "foreigner" with a fresh eye, offering a new perspective on an age-old reality, to a global audience as well as to the tradition's own representatives-proposing the initiation of a dialogue.

He conducted a photographic workshop from February 26 to March 10 taking "My Oasis of Silence" as his theme. The results of the workshop (photographs) were exhibited at the Goethe-Institute in March.

During this period an exhibition on 'Architecture and Religion' from the series "Made in Germany" was displayed at the Goethe-Hall besides showing the "fundamental preoccupation of humankind" (as Jurgen Tietz puts it) to erect cult buildings to transcend everyday life, the exhibition was a big draw because of the exhibits display on this exhibition preceded Architect Shereen Amendra lecture on "Architecture and Religion".

Her topic was a religious architectural construction: The Mahatupa in Anuradhapura had caught her attention.

There was also the screening of films on Buddhism:

June 27: "Giant Buddhas-The loss of 1600 years old Buddhas in Bamiyan Valley. Afghanistan." July 18: "Ladakh" by Clemens Kuby, Munich July 25: "Living Buddha" by Clemens Kuby, Munich

A Poster Competition, Quiz and Exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary was also conducted.