Kavan Balasuriya has been able to establish a name for his cutting edge work. His basis of learning through trial and error may have been a risk but Kavan believes he had a lot to learn from it. Now looking forward to taking up commissioned work, Kavan has set time off to explore new avenues with the intention of broadening ...
Curated by Samdani Art Foundation Artistic Director and DAS Chief Curator Diana Campbell Betancourt, the 2016 edition was held from February 5 to 8 in the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in partnership with the country’s National Academy of Fine and Performing Arts. With extended hours, DAS is effectively two days longer than the 2014 edition and now with a free and ...
Galle Literary Festival which was initiated back in 2006 held its seventh edition of the Festival in January. Galle Literary Festival 2016 took off to an exciting start, as it commenced for the first time in Kandy and then made its way to familiar ground in Galle, which was then followed by the event in Jaffna. Galle Literary Festival which ...
Through our conversation with Indian Designer Sanjay we found that his work goes beyond simply designing a piece of clothing. On the journey to re-establish the need for ethnic wear, Sanjay Garg shares his story on how he was able to bring back that of which was once a dying trend. The versatility of his pieces make it both functional ...
Layla speaks of the repetitive motions in her cathartic paintings being related to the unconscious routine she follows on a daily basis as a mother. Layla who was selected to represent Sri Lanka at the International Artists Residency shares her experiences with us as she also highlights the necessity of establishing more art residencies in the country as a vital ...
The Founder and Designer of MAUS, Annika Fernando has an immensely interesting story behind her design principles. In conversation with Annika, we were taken off guard when she informed us that her passion and interest were always in the sciences. In our attempt to fathom such a combination of genres embraced by a single person, we were able to unravel ...
A twist on contemporary art displayed by Mahen Perera as he showcases his unique technique of reverse painting. Mahen’s predominant theme of inner excavation unravel techniques which are concealed by most artists. We found it truly exciting to witness a distinct diversion from the traditions of art, which pave for unexplored artistic directions through Mahen’s work. Mahen was born and ...
An artist with a revolutionary perspective on music, photography and painting, Lionel Wendt first gained international recognition as a talented pianist. His story is one that has been told and retold many times before, and yet bears retelling at regular intervals if only to ensure awareness of the man and his achievements among the younger generations both here and abroad. ...
Food fanatic and art enthusiast Harry Pieris was evidently an opinionated man. His theories with regard to food and consumption as bizarre as they may sound, also seem to have a certain level of truth in them. He was influenced greatly by art to the extent of pursuing it throughout the span of his life, unlike any of his many ...
Kavan Balasuriya recently obtained a BA Fine Art degree at the Central Saint Martin’s College of Art & Design in London. Upon returning to Colombo he has since held two solo exhibitions. His interests lie in using archetypal motifs and vernacular conceptions as a design theory. Kavan’s selection is comprised of a series of drawings created in the midst of ...
P413 is a self-taught artist from Colombo. The internet is his primary source of art education and inspiration. Although he is fuelled digitally, his best work is delivered in physical form. Influenced by urban youth culture reflected by the internet, from street art, concept art, electronic music to the use of technology in art and entertainment, P413 looks to express ...
By Vinuri Perera Wildlife photographer Rajiv bore an interest in animals and wildlife since his younger days. Rajiv has been exposed to wildlife from a very young age through his parents who took him to Horton Plains National Park from the time he was three months old. He was interested in observing all manner of creatures at his place, from geckos to ...
Following three successful seasons this year, Colombo Fashion Week now focuses on prepping Sri Lanka’s emerging fashion talent to reach great heights. At two recently held workshops – Making the Cut and CFW Day at Raffles Design Institute – fashion students and aspiring fashion designers were able to engage with the CFW Team as well as established designers who were ...
Shamanthi majored in English at the university of Colombo, it was while waiting for her university entrance that her career in graphic designing began. Shamanthi has been painting since she was three and attended an art class for almost as long as her school career, it was after Shamanthi received a job at a design firm that her talents in ...
IN CONVERSATION WITH INDIKA SENANAYAKE Q| What was your main objective/s in initiating Villa together with ICES to be performed in Colombo and why did you choose Villa in particular? A| When I first read Villa, I knew I wanted to bring the play to Sri Lanka. Villa takes on the subject of how to remember the national trauma of ...
Q| How was the dynamic of working with an architect and a constitutions educationist to put your curatorial vision across? A| Deeply fulfilling. Both brought their own perspectives to the project, complementing my vision of what I wanted to see with their own experience and insights. Channa’s interpretation of Asanga’s original research, and Asanga’s work around placing in context key ...
Artwalk which began in 2008 was initiated by Anjuli Flammer Caldera. Anjuli tells us that Artwalk starters platform to bridge the gap between graduate students and recognized artists. Artwalk was her attempt to end the cyclic nature of influencive recognition the arts, in order to allow a platform for recognition for artists to emerge. A special feature of Artwalk is ...
Q| What is the most interesting fact about your poetry collection ‘Love and Protest’? A | ‘Love and Protest’ which won the Gratiaen Prize for this year was the only collection that wasn’t published by me. In fact, it was a small-scale publisher interested in the arts who published it. I find this interesting, as ‘Love and Protest’ wasn’t pre ...
Q | How did the Galle Literary Festival take form? A | It all started almost a decade ago when I was asked to conduct an event in England for the Sri Lankan government in 2006. Unwilling to organize a Sri Lankan food Festival which I was first requested to carry out, I suggested a Sri Lankan Literary Festival, hoping ...
Ena de Silva was one of a group of designers who were closely associated with the architect Geoffrey Bawa during the 1960s and who would later exert a profound influence on the lifestyle and self-image of the people of Sri Lanka. The group initially included the weaver and colourist Barbara Sansoni who established a weaving company called ‘Barefoot’, the artist ...