ITC Ratnadipa Presents The Art and Life of Jayantha Premachandra.
By: Thasmina Sookoor
Art has a way of preserving not just images, but ways of seeing. This April, ITC Ratnadipa Colombo, in collaboration with the Jayantha Premachandra Foundation, invites the public to step into the world of one of Sri Lanka’s most compelling artistic voices through The Art and Life of Jayantha Premachandra, a retrospective exhibition that celebrates the life, work, and enduring influence of the late artist. Open from April 23rd to 25th at the Kathanayake Lounge, ITC Ratnadipa Colombo, the exhibition will run daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM with complimentary entry. It offers a rare opportunity for art enthusiasts, students, and the wider community to engage with a significant collection of Premachandra’s work, much of which reflects a deeply humanistic approach to art.
Jayantha Premachandra, who lived from 1935 to 1988, is widely regarded as an artist whose work transcended boundaries. His visual language was both expressive and accessible, capturing the textures of everyday life in Sri Lanka while engaging with broader themes of humanity, compassion, and freedom. His paintings often moved beyond representation, inviting viewers to consider emotion, movement, and meaning in ways that felt immediate and personal. What makes this exhibition particularly significant is not only the scale of the collection but also the context it provides. Premachandra’s work reached audiences far beyond Sri Lanka, with forty-five solo exhibitions held across Europe, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, the former USSR, the Middle East, and Asia from the 1950s to the 1980s. In doing so, he helped place Sri Lankan art within a global conversation, offering perspectives that were rooted in local experience yet universally resonant.
Visitors to the exhibition will find themselves immersed in a body of work that reflects both artistic exploration and social observation. His pieces often reveal a sensitivity to the human condition, portraying moments of stillness, tension, and connection with equal intensity. There is a sense that his art does not simply depict life but engages with it, questioning, interpreting, and responding to the world around him. Complementing the exhibition is a thoughtfully curated programme of talks, discussions, and workshops designed to deepen engagement with Premachandra’s legacy. These sessions bring together artists, academics, and industry professionals, offering multiple perspectives on his work and its continued relevance.
The programme begins on April 23rd at 6:30 PM with a talk titled Jayantha Premachandra: Visual Thinking, Exaggeration, and Artistic Practice. Featuring Jagath Ravindra, former Dean of the Faculty of Visual Arts at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo, alongside Attorney at Law and art enthusiast Shanaka Amarasinghe, the session will explore the intellectual and stylistic dimensions of Premachandra’s work, shedding light on the thought processes that shaped his artistic approach. On April 24th, the focus shifts toward emerging artists and practical engagement. At 5:30 PM, Ishani Senadhira, who holds a Master’s degree in Art from Shanthi Nikethan, will lead a session titled Insight for the New Generation by Jayantha Premachandra. This will be followed at 6:30 PM by a workshop and talk on The Art of Framing, conducted by Shanila Alles, CEO of Curado, and Nalliney Thangavelu, Manager at Foto Design.
Together, these sessions aim to bridge the gap between artistic inspiration and practical application, offering valuable insights for those looking to develop their own creative practice. The final day, April 25th, offers a full schedule of interactive and reflective sessions. The morning begins at 10:30 AM with Art Techniques and Methodology: An Introductory Demonstration, conducted by lecturers from the Painting Department of the Faculty of Visual Arts in Colombo. This workshop provides a hands-on introduction to artistic techniques, making it particularly valuable for students and beginners.
In the evening, the programme turns toward broader discussions on art and its place in society. At 5:30 PM, Dr. Bina Gandhi Deori, Assistant Professor at Visva Bharati University, will present Beyond Borders: The Shared Artistic Tradition of Jayantha Premachandra, exploring the cross-cultural influences and connections present in his work. The day concludes at 6:30 PM with Who Owns Art? From Closed Circles to Open Horizons, a thought-provoking talk by Chevaan Daniel, Executive Group Director of The Maharaja Organisation, which examines questions of accessibility, ownership, and the evolving landscape of the art world.
Speaking about the collaboration, Keenan McKenzie, Area Manager for Sri Lanka and General Manager of ITC Ratnadipa Colombo, emphasized the importance of celebrating local artistic heritage. He noted that showcasing Sri Lankan artists is central to the identity of ITC Ratnadipa, and that partnering with the Jayantha Premachandra Foundation represents a meaningful step in creating platforms that both honour established artists and support emerging talent.
Nilanka Premachandra, Chairperson of the Jayantha Premachandra Foundation, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significance of presenting the artist’s work in a setting that encourages reflection and dialogue. She emphasized that the exhibition is not only about revisiting the past but also about engaging with the ideas and human experiences embedded in the work. Through the accompanying workshops and discussions, the Foundation aims to inspire curiosity, nurture creativity, and ensure that Premachandra’s legacy continues to resonate with future generations.
At its core, The Art and Life of Jayantha Premachandra is more than an exhibition. It is an invitation to pause, to observe, and to engage with art in a way that goes beyond surface appreciation. It offers a space where history, creativity, and conversation intersect, allowing visitors to experience not just the work of an artist, but the life and vision behind it.
For further information, interested visitors can contact +94 77 768 1114 or +94 70 384 2494. Updates and registration details for workshops will be available on the official social media pages of ITC Ratnadipa and the Jayantha Premachandra Art Foundation.
