Featuring Talks, Workshops, and a Rare Collection of Works

ITC Ratnadipa, in collaboration with the Jayantha Premachandra Foundation, presents The Art & Life of Jayantha Premachandra, a retrospective exhibition honouring the late Sri Lankan artist Jayantha Premachandra (1935–1988). The exhibition will be open to the public from April 23rd to 25th at the Kathanayake Lounge, ITC Ratnadipa Colombo, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with complimentary entry, inviting art enthusiasts, students, and the wider community to experience a rare and significant collection of his work.

Alongside the exhibition, a curated programme of installations, discussions, and workshops will offer deeper insight into the artist’s life, techniques, and enduring influence.

·          April 23rd at 6:30 PM with the talk show ‘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 & Performing Arts, Colombo. and Shanaka Amarasinghe – Attorney at Law & ardent art enthusiast.
·         On April 24th at 5:30 PM, Ishani Senadhira (Master in Art – Shanthi Nikethan, B.A, Col) will lead ‘Insight for The New Generation by Jayantha Premachandra’, followed by a workshop and talk show on ‘The Art of Framing’ at 6:30 PM with Shanila Alles – CEO of Curado and Nalliney Thangavelu (Manager at Foto Design).
·         April 25th begins with the morning workshop ‘Art Techniques And Methodology: An Introductory Demonstration’ conducted by the Lecturers of the Painting Department of the Faculty of Visual Arts Colombo at 10:30 AM. The evening features the talk show ‘Beyond Borders: The Shared Artistic Tradition of Jayantha Premachandra’ with Dr Bina Gandhi Deori, Assistant Professor at Visva-Bharati University, at 5:30 PM, and concludes with the talk show ‘Who Owns Art? From Closed Circles to Open Horizons, with Chevaan Daniel, Executive Group Director of The Maharaja Organisation, at 6:30 PM.

Commenting on the exhibition, Keenan McKenzie, Area Manager for Sri Lanka and General Manager of ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo, said, “At ITC Ratnadipa, we celebrate Sri Lanka’s artistic community by showcasing the works of talented local artists across our property. We are passionate about supporting local creativity and are proud to partner with the Jayantha Premachandra Foundation to bring this exhibition to life. Through the exhibition and accompanying workshop series, we aim to honour an artist of such international stature while also inspiring and nurturing the next generation of artists.”

Nilanka Premachandra, Chairperson of the Jayantha Premachandra Foundation, added, “This collaboration with ITC Ratnadipa offers a unique platform to celebrate and reflect on Jayantha Premachandra’s artistic vision. Presenting his work in this context allows the Foundation to explore the deeper narratives, ideas, and human experiences his art embodies. Through these workshops, discussions, and exhibitions, we aim to nurture curiosity, inspire creativity, and provide opportunities for meaningful engagement with art, ensuring his legacy continues to resonate with future generations.”

This exhibition reflects Premachandra’s deeply humanistic vision and expressive visual language, capturing everyday life in Sri Lanka while engaging with broader themes of humanity, compassion, and freedom. His work reached audiences across Europe, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, the former USSR, the Middle East, and Asia, placing Sri Lankan art within an international context at 45 solo exhibitions from the 1950-80s.