Recently updated on January 23rd, 2020 at 01:05 pm
Sri Lanka’s waterside capital is famous for its eclectic blend of Portuguese, British and Dutch architecture, as well as its beautiful Buddhist temples. But beyond Colombo’s colonial influences and religious sites, there’s a modern art movement that’s flourishing across the city. To get to the roots of the Sri Lankan contemporary art scene, here are some of the best places to visit on a cultural tour of the capital.
The success of the city’s contemporary art scene can be traced back to the establishment of the now-iconic art association, the Colombo ’43 Group. Founded in 1943 by a group of artists – who at that time were a part of the Ceylon Society of Arts – and led by the photographer, cinematographer and critic, Lionel Wendt, this group is widely credited with revolutionising modern art in Sri Lanka, incorporating elements of Europe’s modern art movement within the artistic landscape of Colombo.
Key members of the Colombo ’43 Group included four of Sri Lanka’s most eminent artists: Harold Peiris, Ivan Peries, Justin Daraniyagala and George Keyt, each of whom went on to establish their own artistic legacy.
In addition to being a founding member of the group, Harold Peiris (1904-1988) was a co-founder of the Lionel Wendt Art Centre, which to this day is dedicated to showcasing both visual and performing arts, as well as providing a space for arts workshops. He then went on to establish the Sapumal Foundation in the house he once lived and worked in, with the art collection he donated on show. Today, the galleries are home to more than 200 paintings and drawings, and are well worth a visit for the light they shine on the development of Sri Lankan contemporary art from the 1920s up until the present day.
George Keyt (1901-1993) was another of Sri Lanka’s most distinguished modern painters, taking inspiration from the cubism art movement, and in particular the artist Henri Matisse. While his work has been exhibited worldwide, visitors to the city can see many of his best works within Colombo’s art collections. The George Keyt Foundation, which now exists to honour the artist’s work by promoting Sri Lankan art and providing opportunities for local artists, is responsible for some of the artworks on display, and plays and active role in the annual open-air art fair, The Kala Pola.
One of George Keyt’s most celebrated works is his famous mural at Gothami Viharaya temple, which is easily accessible from the city in its setting outside Borella, in the greater area of Colombo. It’s here that the artist was invited to paint the outer walls of the house of statues to depict the life of Buddha. This is now a protected archaeological monument.
Of course, the best way to see Sri Lankan contemporary art is to visit the city’s art galleries, and one of the most prominent is the Saskia Fernando Gallery. This is the largest contemporary art exhibition space in Sri Lanka, exhibiting the work of both leading and up-and-coming Sri Lankan artists and lauded for being the first gallery to focus on the nation’s contemporary art scene, considered key to the development of the South Asian art movement.
This evolution of Sri Lankan contemporary art has since led to new galleries in Colombo, including Art Way Gallery and The Barefoot Gallery. Both galleries have outposts in Galle as well as the capital, exhibiting and selling local arts and artisanal crafts as well as providing a platform for Sri Lankan artists to show their work. The best of the local contemporary art scene can be experienced at the annual Colombo Art Biennale, which offers Sri Lankan artists the opportunity to garner international attention as well as increased recognition of their works at home.
With such momentum created by decades of like-minded artists, the Sri Lankan contemporary art movement shows no sign of slowing, and it’s a scene that’s easily discovered by visiting the city’s galleries and artistic sites.
Explore Colombo and discover local contemporary art on the Wonders of Sri Lanka trip.
Image credits: Cover photo of a painting by Ruwan Prasanna (2015, Landscape XXVII, Acrylic on Canvas, 203x153cm) at Saskia Fernando Gallery © Saskia Fernando Gallery. The Colombo Festival of Art and Design © Flickr / Shehal Joseph. Artwork by George Keyt at the Colombo National Art Gallery © Flickr / Indi Samarajiva. Laki Senanayake exhibition at Barefoot Gallery © Dominic Sansoni. An exhibition at Colombo Art Biennale © Flickr / Indi Samarajiva.