'One Won' - art exhibition opens at the Stables

‘One Won’ – the art exhibition that opened at the Stables, Park Street Mews on yesterday, August 6, is part of ‘Celebrate Colombo’ – a week-long initiative to showcase the city’s vibrant offerings and creative spirit launched by SO Sri Lanka and Colombo Fashion Week (CFW).

The title itself was enough to create interest not to mention the presence of 40 of Sri Lanka’s well-established artists and most promising young talents who had been invited to participate in this exhibition to raise funds for those affected by the Easter Sunday blasts.

Working through World Vision Lanka, the artists will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their works to the Physiotherapy Unit of the Batticaloa Base Hospital where those injured in the explosion on April 21 are being treated. 

CFW Founder and Managing Director Ajai Vir Singh said the title of the exhibition which had many questioning, was his way of asserting that Sri Lanka was ONE and that standing together united, we had WON.

The artists themselves invited to express their thoughts on this theme responded with great enthusiasm working to produce artworks within the short span of two months. That 99 percent of the works exhibited were done specifically for this exhibition was immensely gratifying, said Ajai.

Many of the participating artists were present at the exhibition launch taking the opportunity to meet visitors and explain their works. 

The 40 artists at One Won include:

• Anura Krishantha
• Anusha Gajaweera
• Bandu Manamperi
• Buddhika Nakandala
• Chathurika Jayani
• Chaminda Gamage
• Godwin Roger Constantine
• Danushka Marasinghe
• Dumith Kulasekera
• Gayan Prageeth
• Gamunu Vithanage
• Jagath Ravindra
• Subramanian Kajendram
• Kingsley Gunatillake
• Kirushan Sivananam
• Koralegedera Pushpakumara
• Lakisha Fernando
• Lalith Manage
• Mahen Perera
• Pala Pothupitiye
• P. Pradeep Chandrasiri
• Pakkiyarajah Rupaneethan
• P.S. Sanjeeva Kumara
• B. Sarath Gunasiri Perera
• Sathsara Ilangasinghe
• Shaanea Mendis D’Silva
• Sudath Abeysekera
• Sujeewa Kumari Weerasinghe
• Sujith Rathnayake
• Thisath Thoradeniya
• Liz Fernando
• Vajira Gunawardena
• Anoma Wijewardene
• Catharina Danial
• Anuradha Henakaarachchi
• Chamila Gamage
• Dr. Manoranjana Herath
• Sanjaya Geekiyanage
• Wasantha Rathnayake
• Janani Cooray.

Some making political statements, others expressing philosophical theories, the works on display against the stark black canvas of the Stables were arresting and diverse.

“Each artist has explored and expanded the vision of a unified future that offers hope of peace and tranquility. Each has done so by extending their own heritage, their own practice and their own being,” an introductory note from the catalogue states.

‘One Won’ is on at the Stables, Park Street Mews until August 13.

(Pix by Priyantha Wickramarachchi)