Everyone has dreams and aspirations, it is just an intrinsic part of being human, a desire to pave our own way in life and begin something of our own. For many of us, these remain just that, a distant dream that we occasionally dig up in the depths of our mind and look over longingly, like a loving memory that has been left far behind in the past. However, every now and again, there are those who decide that their dreams present too great an opportunity to overlook and leave in the past, and they work on transforming this internal desire into a tangible reality.

 Building’s one’s lifelong dreams and aspirations from scratch can be a daunting prospect. Opportunity rarely falls into someone’s lap, and those who want to pursue this path must struggle against the circumstances, odds, and scepticism to carve out their path for themselves. These struggles are reflected in the stories of Hasitha Adhikariarachchi and Kavitha Ramasamy, two female Sri Lankan artists based in Sydney. Their stories are a testimony to resilience and determination, and through their perseverance and dedication they perfectly encapsulate the beauty and heritage of their homeland, Sri Lanka. Both Hasitha and Kavitha are curators of the ‘South Asian Film Art and Literature Festival (SAFAL)’ in New South Wales which showcases artistic talents of SAARAC nations living in various parts of Australia. Kavitha’s beloved husband Jeyakumar Ramasamy is also one of the active members of the same.

Hasitha – A Writer

Hasitha Adhikariarachchi 

Hasitha Adhikariarachchi is a Sydney based artist, and the medium through which she explores her artistic creativity is the written and spoken word. Writing is a deeply emotive and immersive form of art, and Hasitha’s experiences and journey in life are a crucial inspiration for her work. Born in Kegalle, Sri Lanka, she moved with her family to Australia in 2016. During this time, she was able to discover her true artistic potential.

During the day, she works as an IT professional, but at night Hasitha devotes herself to her writing. For many people, handling one profession is as exhausting as it is, and we look forward to coming home so that we can rest. However, writing is something Hasitha is truly passionate about, and through pure dedication and commitment she has paved a way for herself as a flourishing, eloquent and thriving Sri Lankan artist within Australia. She has delved into a range of writing endeavours, including poetry, monologues, one-act plays and short fiction.

 As well as pursing her journey into writing, she is also passionate about sharing the beauty, history, and depth of the written word with a far-reaching and diverse audience. In this regard, she has partaken in a range of innovative projects in the hope of achieving this. For example, in 2013 she was published in the Write to Reconcile II anthology in Sri Lanka. Not only this, but she was the winner of NSW Multilingual Poetry Slam in 2017, a featured artist in Parramatta Poetry Slam and has also been a panellist at the South Asian Film, Arts & Literature Festival 2017.

 Her performances in numerous events have also embellished her already diverse portfolio, and these include paid performances at the ‘Summer Slams for Social Justice’, at ‘Between the Covers: ‘Slide Night’ Performance’, as well as the ‘The Monologue Adventure – Voices of Women’. Furthermore, in 2018, Hasitha authored ‘A Moment’, a 10-min play which was performed at the ‘Crash Test Drama’ festival at Darlo Drama Sydney, whilst also winning the ‘Playwright Encouragement Award’. As well as this, Hasitha was also one of the ten writers selected for ‘The Citizen Writes’ project of ‘Carnival of the Bold’ festival funded by the City of Sydney.

Writing is a timeless and classic form of expression, and Hasitha has always strived to ensure that others can enjoy the beauty of this powerful and meaningful form of creative expression and communication. To this end, in August 2019, she was the literary curator of South Asian Film, Arts & Literature Festival (SAFAL FEST), sponsored by City of Ryde and Macquarie University. There she organised the South Asian Poetry Slam as well as panel discussions which brought together more than twenty writers and journalists of South Asian origin.

SAFAL Fest - Panel discussion 1

 

Kavitha – A Visual Artist

 

Kavitha Ramasamy 

Kavitha Ramasamy is a visual artist based in Sydney, and a glance at her achievements provide us with a glimpse into her spirit, motivation, and desire to work towards something that is innovative and unique. With expertise in a range of art mediums, Kavitha is the Director of KJ’s Brush ‘N’ Canvas – a visual art school which runs art programs for budding artists in north-western Sydney. Artists have always drawn inspiration from their experiences, emotions, and thoughts, and with Kavitha the beauty of her work parallels her journey towards flourishing and blooming as an artist.

This journey begins in Digana Kandy, Sri Lanka, where she was born. Kavitha continued to travel, explore, and open herself to diverse cultures and traditions. Being an accountant by profession, she travelled to Tamilnadu in India and then back to Sri Lanka to pursue her education. It was during this time in which she was able to experience a range of novel visual art and artistic forms in India and Sri Lanka. This exposure ignited a deeply-set passion within her for the visual arts, and to this end she started a Diploma in Visual Arts and embarked on her career in art. Later in 2008 she moved with her family to Australia.

Within Australia, Kavitha continued to pursue her individual and unique interpretation of art, and was embraced by a nurturing, creative and inspiring environment in which she and her art could flourish. With the encouragement and support of her patrons, which Kavitha has in abundance, she has been able to establish her own platform as an artist and reach unprecedented heights in terms of her artistic potential. Within her art gallery, she has designed and creative an exhibition of around 100 canvases of various sizes, and visitors to her studio will find themselves immersed in a dreamscape. Gazing upon her canvases, visitors are hypnotized and mesmerised, instantly engaged, enlightened, and amazed by her work.

However, Kavitha did not just stop here. She began participating within art shows as well as curating her own art exhibitions as well. For example, she oversaw an international art exhibition for the South Asian Film Art and Literature Festival (SAFAL) 2019, as well as the International Conference on Thirukural - Peace and Harmony 2019, hosted by the University of Sydney. Moreover, she teaches workshops for Sydwest Multicultural Services in Blacktown, and has displayed her paintings in several illustrious venues. The Divali celebrations organised by Cumberland Council at Wentworthville, in Strathfield, in Blacktown Council’s Stanhope Library and the NSW Parliament House are to name just a few.

Kavitha has also sought to give back to the community from whom she has received so much admiration and support. In line with this, she works with those with ADHD and Autism through art therapy. Kavitha is also an example of a female entrepreneur who has managed her business alongside her community efforts. Other have recognised this, and she has been the recipient of numerous business awards – Professional of the Year, Outstanding Business Person of the Year and Women Entrepreneur of the Year.

Sri Lanka – A Land of Artistic Inspiration

Through their perseverance and efforts, Kavitha and Hasitha have been able to draw inspiration from their life journeyed, which began in their birthplace of Sri Lanka and has brought them to Australia. Art, whether it is the visual form or written, is one of the most universal forms of communication through which cultures, countries and languages can express experiences, emotions, sentiments, and messages. By pursing their dreams, Hasitha and Kavitha have become glowing representatives of and proud ambassadors for Sri Lanka’s traditions, culture, and beauty.

As well as pursuing their own dreams, Kavitha and Hasitha have also devoted their efforts towards making art more accessible to the wider community. By organising events and participating in competitions, they are giving voice to other artists from their homeland, providing a platform through which audiences in Australia and beyond can experience and learn about the historical heritage, culture and traditions of their homeland, Sri Lanka.