'Imagine' exhibition: Special-needs children create dream landscapes

At the end of 2013, a series of paintings titled ' Dream Landscape' was done by a group of special-needs children with their teacher Lakisha Fernando. The vibrant, eye-catching and heart-rending work led to the idea of having the exhibition titled 'Imagine'-to give exposure to the creative imagination of specialneeds children.

"Imagine' presented by the Savi Academy of Art from November 14-16 at the National Art Gallery will exhibit the work of students' and teacher-student collabo- rative works as well as teachers' work including Lakisha Fernando's.

First Lady Shiranthi Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa will be the chief guest at the exhibition. Well known artists Sybil Wettasinghe, Prof.Jagath Weerasinghe and Prof. Ganadasa Perera will also grace the event.

Lakisha whose focus is on art therapy, has seen the children improving their skills through special art and art therapy lessons. "The success and the lifeimprovements of the children are felt from the response of parents too. We believe that 'Imagine' will be an opportunity to express the creativity and imagination of children through their artworks," she says.

Founder of the Savi Academy of Art and a graduate of the University of Kelaniya, Lakisha a member of the Theertha International Artists Collective, founding member and general coordinator of International Fireflies Artists' Network, Sri Lanka is also a practising psychological counsellor and uses art therapy ideas to improve her students' creativity, psychosocial life and personality.