English for Art and Design: Muhanned Cader artist voice (1997/2012)

R.J. Preece (EFL)
English for Art & Design | 28 June 2012
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Read "Muhanned Cader: Artist Voice from Sri Lanka (1997)".

Exercise 1: Comprehension Questions

Answer the following questions.

1. What is Muhanned Cader’s background?
2. What did he think about his schooling?
3. How does he describe his work visually?
4. What materials does he like to use?
5. Does he feel like he is "a Sri Lankan artist"?
6. How does he think people feel about his work?

Exercise 2: Critical Reading and Writing

Surprise! Creating an "artist voice" is not rocket science. They are simply answers to questions based on an interview of an artist. In this "artist voice", the writer asked the artist a lot of questions. This voice is a combination of statements by the artist with some editing.

1. Reread the large quotation about Muhanned Cader. What specific questions do you think he was answering from the interviewer? Some general questions are in Exercise 1.
2. What other questions do you think would be good to ask an artist?
3. For art and design students: With your list of questions, interview another student. Audio-record their answers so you can listen closely to what they said. Then write an "artist voice" for your artist or designer.
4. Read other artist voices from Sri Lanka: Anoli Perera, Rahju, Laki Senanayake, Senaka Senanayake, and Jagath Weerasinghe.