In art, a rhizome becomes a metaphor for openness, connection, and constant becoming; works that speak to one another, artists who grow through exchange, and spaces that allow multiple interpretations rather than one authoritative voice.
With this idea at its core, a new art space quietly opened its doors in Colombo. Located at Senanayake Mawatha 31/4, in proximity to the Goethe-Institut, the gallery introduces itself as a platform rooted in exchange, artistic autonomy, and collective growth.
The physical space reflects this ethos through restraint and flexibility. Art Rhizome occupies a renovated two-storey townhouse set within a quiet rear courtyard. The architecture is neutral and minimal, allowing the artworks to remain the primary focus. Spread across seven exhibition rooms, the gallery presents a calm and contemplative environment that encourages visitors to move freely through the space, forming their own connections between works rather than following a prescribed path.
A picture rail system is used throughout the gallery, enabling works to be displayed, rearranged, or expanded with ease. This approach allows for adaptability and change over time, reinforcing the rhizomatic idea of continuous growth and reconfiguration. The current exhibition features works by 51 artists, creating a dense yet varied presentation of contemporary artistic practices in Sri Lanka.
For visitors encountering the Sri Lankan art scene for the first time, Art Rhizome offers a compact and comprehensive overview. The number of artists and works allows for exposure to a wide range of styles, themes, and visual languages within a single visit. Rather than focusing on a single curatorial narrative, the exhibition brings together multiple voices, encouraging viewers to navigate the space according to their own interests and interpretations.
Supporting this experience is an accompanying catalogue of exceptionally high quality, which plays a central role in contextualizing the exhibition. The catalogue provides detailed information about the artists and their works, offering visitors a valuable point of reference as they move through the gallery. It serves not only as documentation, but also as an extension of the exhibition itself.
The catalogue is authored by the six founding members of Art Rhizome, who also act as the curating team: Sanjeewa Kumara, Sujeewa Kumari, Vajira Gunawardena, Prageeth Rathnayake, Saman Wijesooriya, and Chaturanga Gamage. Each of them is also represented in the exhibition as an artist. This artist-led structure distinguishes Art Rhizome from many other exhibition models in Colombo, where curatorial authority is often external to artistic practice.
By combining the roles of artist and curator, Art Rhizome positions itself as a space shaped from within the artistic community. The gallery functions as a network rather than a hierarchy, where artists present their work alongside peers and engage in ongoing dialogue.
This structure reflects the rhizome concept not only metaphorically, but also in practice, emphasizing collaboration, shared authorship, and collective visibility.
Within the current exhibition, artists are represented by varying numbers of works, ranging from single pieces to multiple presentations. In total, 51 artists are included, with 14% of the participants being women. As an open and evolving project, Art Rhizome defines itself as a platform that continues to grow and adapt over time.
Rather than positioning itself as a commercial gallery driven by market demands, Art Rhizome presents itself as an artistic initiative focused on process, exchange, and presence. The absence of overt thematic framing allows works to coexist without being confined to fixed meanings. Visitors are invited to experience the exhibition as a network of ideas, materials, and expressions that intersect and diverge across rooms and floors.
The concept of the rhizome, as articulated by Deleuze and Guattari, describes an “anti-structure”: a map rather than a tracing, without a centre, open to radical connections and transformations. Art Rhizome translates this concept into a physical and social space, one where art is not presented as a linear progression, but as a living system shaped by interaction and movement.
As a new addition to Colombo’s cultural landscape, Art Rhizome introduces a model grounded in flexibility and artistic agency. Its location, structure, and curatorial approach together create a setting that encourages exploration rather than instruction. The gallery does not demand a single way of seeing but instead allows meaning to emerge through the relationships between works, artists, and viewers. The exhibition will continue from December 16 to January 16, welcoming visitors daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
With its first exhibition now open, Art Rhizome has established itself as a space rooted in connection and growth. Like the botanical structure from which it takes its name, it spreads quietly, forming links beneath the surface and creating room for new shoots to emerge. In doing so, it offers Colombo an art space defined not by boundaries, but by possibility.
