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Art stop
By Ruwanthi Herat Gunaratne
The petrol station at Alexandra Place has been under much scrutiny in recent weeks as it acquired a plush new look. There is a line of vehicles honking their horns and queueing to purchase petrol. There is the newly opened supermarket and now, believe it or not, on the floor above, an art gallery.

"Why?" Brian Müller-Pereira, the Managing Partner of Felix Pereira and Sons, the dealer for Lanka IOC at Alexandra Place, Colombo 7 laughs. "It's a unique idea, that is why. When this petrol station was initially being done up, the IOC officials informed me that there would be space on the first floor for some kind of business venture."
"They gave me a list of possibilities. All kinds of commercial enterprises." Out of all these, it was the concept of an art gallery that caught his attention.

In Sri Lanka, where locating a supermarket at a petrol station is a relatively new concept, would an art gallery be able to draw enthusiasts? "I believe so, that’s why I went ahead," says Mr. Pereira.

"I am an art lover myself," explains Mr. Pereira. "We will encourage people to step into the gallery for a few minutes once they finish their shopping. It will brighten up their day!" The gallery, which is on the 1st floor of the petrol station has glass walls and is effectively lit up.

The area being comparatively small, is not a disadvantage, he says. "I don't see that as a problem. Most of the art galleries in the world are small, but they manage to attract art enthusiasts. And we've arranged for parking."

He goes on to say that the initial response has been from the pump operators. "The paintings have been up only for a day or two and it is the pump operators who keep coming in to take a quick look. It's brightened up the station completely."

What are the plans for the future? "I spoke with the National Art Gallery who are thrilled with the venture. They told me that art-lovers come in the hope of purchasing a painting and are utterly disappointed when they are not permitted to do so. They appreciate our contribution as we also deal with the sale of paintings."

He has hopes to register the gallery with the Ceylon Tourist Board. After the initial exhibition he says that the gallery will be rented out to artists. "The first week of each month will be specifically for the sale and exhibition of work. Artists will be invited to display their work. During the remainder of the month anyone is welcome to use the gallery. “Only of course, for exhibition and sale of art.”

With the petrol station being a part of his family for nearly 70 years, Brian Pereira's improvements might seem drastic to all those who pass by on a daily basis. But "I am simply paving the way for change," he says.

The inaugural exhibition of the Felix Gallerie D'Art will feature the work of well-known artists Tilake Abeysinghe, Upasena Gunewardene, Sarath Surasena, Madhava Gunewardene, Stanley Kirinde, Segar and Ananda Somatilake. The exhibition which opened on Friday will continue till Nov 30 from 10a.m. to 7p.m. each day

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