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ITC Ratnadipa is hosting an art exhibition titled “The Art & Life of Jayantha Premachandra”, which presents a retrospective of the artistic journey of the renowned artist Jayantha Premachandra

This exhibition, held in memory of the late Sri Lankan master painter Jayantha Premachandra, will take place from April 23 to April 25 at the Kathanayake Lounge premises of ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo. It will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. The exhibition is free of charge, allowing art enthusiasts as well as school students to view a rare and significant collection of his works.

The exhibition highlights Premachandra’s profound humanistic perspective and distinctive artistic style. His creative works explore universal themes such as compassion, humanity, and freedom, while vividly depicting everyday Sri Lankan life. Through 45 solo exhibitions held between the 1950s and 1980s across Europe, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, and Asia, his works gained international recognition, helping bring Sri Lankan art to a global audience.

Alongside the exhibition, a series of talks and workshops on art will be conducted, offering the public an opportunity to gain deeper insight into Jayantha Premachandra’s life story and artistic techniques.

On April 23 at 6:30 p.m., a discussion titled “Jayantha Premachandra: Visual Thinking, Exaggeration, and Artistic Practice” will feature former Dean of the Faculty of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, Jagath Ravindra, and lawyer Shanak Amarasinghe.

On April 24 at 5:30 p.m., Mrs. Ishani Senadeera (Master of Arts in Fine Arts – Shanthi Nikethan, B.A., Colombo) will conduct an academic discussion titled “Insight for The New Generation by Jayantha Premachandra.” This will be followed by a workshop and talk on “The Art of Framing” conducted by Shanila Alas, CEO of Curado, and Nalini Thangavelu, Manager of Foto Design.

On April 25, the morning workshop will begin at 10:30 a.m. with an introductory demonstration titled “Art Techniques and Methodology” conducted by lecturers from the Painting Department of the Faculty of Visual Arts, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo.

On the same day at 5:30 p.m., Associate Professor Dr. Beena Gandhi Deori of Visva-Bharati University will present a discussion titled “Beyond Borders: The Shared Artistic Tradition of Jayantha Premachandra.” The series of academic discussions and workshops will conclude at 6:30 p.m. with a conversation titled “Who Owns Art? From Closed Circles to Open Horizons,” featuring Shevan Daniel, Group Executive Director of Capital Maharaja Organization.

Sharing his thoughts on this collaboration, Keenan McKenzie, Regional Manager and General Manager of ITC Ratnadipa Sri Lanka, stated that honoring Sri Lanka’s artistic heritage is a key aspect of ITC Ratnadipa’s identity. He emphasized that the hotel actively engages with creative communities to showcase local artists’ talents. He further noted that collaborating with the Jayantha Premachandra Foundation to honor an internationally recognized artist is a significant milestone, and expressed pride in creating a platform to inspire future generations.

Commenting on this initiative, Chairperson of the Jayantha Premachandra Foundation, Nilanka Premachandra, said:

“Through the collaboration with ITC Ratnadipa, a valuable platform has been created to commemorate Jayantha Premachandra’s artistic vision. This exhibition provides audiences with an important space to explore his artistic abilities and his exploration of human experiences. Furthermore, the workshops and discussions held here help nurture creativity and connect future generations with art.”

For further information, you may contact +94 77 768 1114 or +94 70 384 2494. Updates and registration links for workshops will be shared via the official social media pages of ITC Ratnadipa and the Jayantha Premachandra Art Foundation.