By Kshalini Nonis

“Artistry Meets Lifestyle” an art exhibition that moves beyond the conventional gallery experience, aims to show that art does not have to exist in isolation. It can be lived with, interacted with, and experienced daily.

It is presented by   Ilham Sanoon, a Fine Line Artist, in collaboration with 7th Avenue Homes and will be held from November 7th to November 9th 2025. The exclusive preview night will be held on 7 November.   We had a chat with Ilham Sanoon.  

1. Can you tell us about your upcoming exhibition?

“Artistry Meets Lifestyle” is an experiential showcase that brings together fine art and interior design in a way that is rarely seen in Sri Lanka. It’s an exhibition that blurs the boundaries between art and the spaces we inhabit, allowing visitors to step into curated living environments where original artworks become part of the design language itself.

The exhibition is presented by Ilham Sanoon in collaboration with 7th Avenue Homes, and it aims to redefine how art can be appreciated, not just on walls, but as an integral part of everyday life.

2. Why did you choose the name “Artistry Meets Lifestyle” for this exhibition?

The name reflects the essence of the concept. I wanted to move beyond the conventional gallery experience, to show that art does not have to exist in isolation. It can be lived with,
interacted with, and experienced daily. “Artistry Meets Lifestyle” is about that intersection: where fine art finds its place within contemporary interiors, and where lifestyle itself
becomes a form of artistic expression.

3. When and where will it be held?

The exhibition will take place at 7th Avenue Homes, 137 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 4, from 7th to 9th November 2025. The exclusive preview night will be held on the 7th, welcoming a select gathering of art enthusiasts, collectors, diplomats, and designers. I am deeply honoured that the Chief Guest for the premier night will be His Excellency  Hanif Yousuf, the Governor of the Western Province, who has been a long-time admirer and supporter of my work. The exhibition will then be open to the public on the 8th and 9th (Saturday and Sunday), from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., inviting everyone to experience this unique fusion of fine art and contemporary interiors.

4. You mentioned that at this exhibition, there will be a convergence between fine art and contemporary living. How will this be done?

Each room within the space has been designed as a living environment, complete with curated furniture, lighting, and décor, to complement the artworks and vice versa. The paintings are not merely hung; they are placed in conversation with the interiors, showing how art can transform a space. It’s a collaboration between my gallery, Blacklit Galleria, and 7th Avenue Homes, where every visual element contributes to a unified aesthetic story.

5. Tell us about your signature black and white artworks and the reason you mostly concentrate on these types of paintings.

From the very beginning, the world I saw was simple, bold, even. My journey into art started with nothing more than black ink on white paper. That simplicity gave me a new way of seeing things. I did experiment with colour for a while, but somehow the results never spoke to me. I always felt I had the power to bring life through the two most mundane shades, black and white.

Over time, this monochrome style became my own language. My work evolved into an intricate mix of fine line art and psychedelic detail, something deeply personal, celebrated for its depth and emotion.

6. What are some of the themes you focus on in your paintings?

I have always been drawn to nature, landscapes, geometrical designs, and spontaneous abstract forms. A lot of my work comes from imagination, complex objects and patterns that take shape almost instinctively as I draw. I enjoy exploring chaos and symmetry at once, letting each piece find its own rhythm and balance.

7. How many solo exhibitions have you had thus far, and how successful have they been?

Since 2015, I have had four solo exhibitions at my private gallery and four more collaborative ones with Leo Burnett, Plate Loft Gallery, the George Keyt Foundation, and Gallery for Life. In addition, I have been fortunate to showcase internationally, once in the Maldives and most recently in Taiwan. Each one has been a learning curve, and I am humbled by the growing audience that continues to connect with my work.

8. Can you tell us about the exhibition you participated in Taiwan earlier this year and how it felt to return there as an artist and not hitherto as a businessman? 

Returning to Taiwan was truly a full-circle moment. For decades, my visits there were all about business: spreadsheets, meetings, and tech exhibitions. I have been there nearly twenty times since 1997. But this 21st visit was different; it was purely about art.

I was invited as a resident artist in Jiufen, one of Taiwan’s most beautiful and historic cities. The programme, titled Dialogue with the Land, was held alongside the Shuijinjiu Poetry Festival, organised by the Taiwan Museum of Traditional Music and the Shancheng Art Museum under the Ministry of Culture. Living in that atmosphere, surrounded by mountains, mist, and poetry, was deeply inspiring.

I also had the privilege of conducting a creative session for students ranging from elementary to high school, inspiring young minds to see how far a single stroke can take them. It was one of the most fulfilling parts of the festival, watching their curiosity transform into creativity. The experience as a whole brought incredible exposure — from Taiwanese national television to print media and reminded me how powerful cultural exchange through art can be.

9. Finally, how do you hope to continue your journey in art?

This year marks ten years since I began my journey as an artist, and quite fittingly, something unexpected happened just a few weeks ago. While working on one of my black-and-white pieces, I accidentally spilt coloured fountain pen ink on it. Out of instinct, I tried to blow it across the paper, and what emerged was something completely new, something that felt alive in a different way.

That little accident made me realise that maybe my next chapter as an artist has already begun. I am still very much rooted in my monochrome identity, but I have started to see how colour can coexist with it, how it can add warmth without taking away the soul of my work.

A few of these new experiments will be part of Artistry Meets Lifestyle, and I am curious and a little excited to see how people respond to them.