The great American dancer Martha Graham was said to have dubbed the Lionel Wendt “the best theatre this side of the Suez Canal” in 1957. Drummer par excellence, Ravibandu Vidyapathi first heard of this from his father, and it came as no surprise. Speaking about the man for whom the theatre was named, Ravibandu says, “As a great photographer, Lionel Wendt has left behind a body of work that is beyond praise. But above all, his greatest legacy remains the Lionel Wendt centre. It is a national treasure.”
Vibrant batik creations, sketches of new designs, swatches of brightly coloured cloth take pride of place in the class rooms at the Academy of Design (AOD), as the students engage in animated discussions and bustle around in eager anticipation of the upcoming Sri Lanka Design Festival.