Author: ARTRA

Cresside knew her father, Aubrey Collette of the ’43 Group for the first ten years of her life and thereafter, the last six years of his. Cresside is the eldest child of Aubrey Collette. Her parents were divorced in 1956 and subsequently Aubrey left for England with his new family in 1961. Cresside left Sri…

“Good art is always new” – what do you think about this statement by George Keyt? When exploring the timelessness of art, it is inevitable to come across the ’43 Group. Dubbed as such due to its initiation in 1943, the ’43 Group consists of Sri Lanka’s greatest artists of all time including, Lionel Wendt,…

Those who promote art have an eclectic mind and a deeper appreciation of beauty, of which they incorporate in their daily lives. From recognizing raw talent to celebrating its magnetic appeal, they revel in the vitality of life through vigorous endeavours of which art patron and collector Sunethra Bandaranaike is no exception. Presently chairing the…

Those who promote art have an eclectic mind and a deeper appreciation of beauty, of which they incorporate in their daily lives. From recognizing raw talent to celebrating its magnetic appeal, they revel in the vitality of life through vigorous endeavours of which art patron and collector Sunethra Bandaranaike is no exception. Presently chairing the…

The ideology of identifying a nation through symbols allows such emblems to be personified by the character of a nation. Anusha Gajaweera’s works of art then attempt to exist ambiguously yet robustly, unidentifiable yet candid. He does not share the landscape of a nation’s identity yet creates an alternate political space that probes and questions…

What does the image of a flower mean to an unprejudiced gaze? Objects often take on symbolic nuances, identities bestowed upon by the people themselves. A work of art may be born of a single thought yet those who document and experience the same works may perceive them differently. As we explore the nuances of…

The term ‘memory-keeper’ may be unfamiliar as a cultural symbol, but it is one that is emblematic of the feminine role in most communities. It is an identity that characterizes a woman who passes down culture onto future generations, ‘keeping’ the nation’s legacy and maintaining its traditions. In her works, contemporary artist Anoli Perera employs…

Art reflects the ugly, as much as it does of beauty. And when beauty is subverted, one cannot help but question its fatal attraction. Or perhaps, the deadly lure is devised to awaken our minds to alternative spheres of mysticism and memory – arousing our curiosities. To subvert, is one of art’s most captivating characteristic,…

Barbara Sansoni’s creative vision is a celebration of beauty and vitality, enhanced and depicted to reflect the multi-dimensional characteristics of her perspectives and observations. Each of the eminent artist’s endeavours are intrinsically attentive to the heritage of the nation and its community. As Barbara practiced her own artistic endeavours, she paved ways to share the works of other artists. The renowned Ulrik Plesner was…

Barbara Sansoni’s dynamic creative pursuits across her drawings from her beautiful buildings to the rhapsody enveloped upon facial features of geometric finesse are fascinating. She presents a truly enchanting introspection to the omnipresence of beauty and vitality, which inevitably reflect the ingenious aptitude of her artistic quests. In unearthing the artist’s esoteric for the special edition…

Ronald Lewcock, husband of Barbara Sansoni is an honorary professor in architecture who met Barbara during his sabbatical from the 1968 to ’69 to explore European Colonial Architecture in Asia. He had also seen Barbara’s drawings in the Architectural Review of February 1966, of which the artist’s multi disciplinary works from traditional buildings to simple…

Barbara Sansoni perceived much of the world and its subjects in colour, from its varying degrees of its eclectic hues to its capacity to manipulate space and structure. She is a wondrous colourist who derives inspiration from the altering shades of Sri Lanka’s scintillating seas to its scenic sunsets and sunrises, of which its enigmatic…

Barbara Sansoni’s drawings comprised that of traditional buildings. Distressed by the demolition of old buildings in the name of growth and expansion, Barbara Sansoni took the initiative to draw these buildings in an attempt to archive them. She developed this ardent passion for beautiful architecture as she grew up amidst varying places in Ceylon including…