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Passion With PatreaBy Yasu MaskayI first met Maria Larsson when I attended an art show she was hosting on behalf of her friend, Kumara Rathnayaka. His painting, "Solitude & Lust" depicted a simple portrait of a young woman with such sadness on her face that I instantly felt a connection to the artist. As I got to know Maria, her dedication to bringing her friends' art to the global market, made her a perfect candidate for this interview. 
What is Patrea?
Patrea Products LLC is a new company providing innovative original art, home accents and furniture from the Asia Pacific Region. What was the inspiration behind Patrea? Having lived and traveled in Asia I have an appreciation for the beauty of their culture and quality of products. That combined with the cultural diversity and economic strength of the Bay Area and the US West coast made us decide to bring the company to life. The concept of Patrea was actually formed on a train from St. Petersburg, Russia to Helsinki, Finland. How does your multi-faceted background play a role in the success of your company? I was born in Sri Lanka and adopted as an infant by a Swedish family with Swedish as first language. I've lived and traveled in Europe, Asia and now the USA doing a variety of work, including 5 star boutique hotel and fashion industries and developing an extensive network of contacts. All my experiences have provided cultural and business perspectives that I use every day How do you choose which artist to represent? The first artist I chose is a close friend of mine from Sri Lanka whose work I've admired for many years. It was only natural for me to represent Kumara. Other artists that I'll be representing are chosen based on a number of criteria, most importantly that the work will appeal to our clients. Can you share with some future project/names of artist representation? There are a couple of new exhibitions and events coming up which you'll be able to read about on the website soon. I'm also in the process of looking at new artists right now. I hope to have some new work available very soon. Tell us little more about your modeling background? Growing up in Sweden, I started modeling when I was about 15 but my priority was always figure skating. The Swedish mentality is that you shouldn't stand out so I think that was one of the reason I never really pursued it. I did continue to model after I moved to London but only on occasion. It wasn't until I moved to Seoul, South Korea that I started working more. Being older and more confident made a big difference and I really enjoyed myself. After starting Patrea I have little time left over for it anymore but I still take a few assignments sometimes. Last time I was in Sri Lanka doing product development I was able to model for a good friend of mine there who is a fantastic designer. 
What makes you want to want to wake
up in the morning?
There is always something to get excited about and something interesting to do. What are your additional passions? I am passionate about my family and friends, traveling, becoming a better, healthier, happier smarter person. Your favorite city? I spent 6 years in London and even after quite a bit of traveling it still remains my favorite city. Which artist's work do you currently carry? could you tell us a little bit more about his/her background? Kumara Rathnayaka, he is a Sri Lankan artist. (including a separate document with information about him) Are you an artist yourself? No, not in the traditional way I'm afraid. My artistic side used to come out during my competitive skating days but that was a long time ago. Where can people purchase your products? The products are available on the website www.patrea.net I also do many events and exhibition when you are also able to purchase Are you in partnership with any organization? We have partnered with a wide variety of companies and organizations in the past for events and exhibitions. One thing we specialize in is to inject art into any type of event in order to add another level of fun and sophistication and give the customer "more value for their money". For example networking events, parties, charity functions etc. What are your dreams for Patrea? and are you involved in any other projects? To enhance recognition for Sri Lanka, it is a beautiful place with amazing people, rich history and diverse culture. I will continue to dispel the myth that mainly low quality, cheap products come out of Asia. There is fantastic craftsmanship, materials, artistry and culture that goes into quality Asian products. Projects in the future focus on developing Patrea's range of products and partnerships. Other than art - what additional products will you be carrying through Patrea? In the future, we plan to add furniture and home accessories of unique and artistic designs |
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