ITC Ratnadipa Presents The Art & Life of Jayantha Premachandra

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 23 to 25 at the Kathanayake Lounge, ITC Ratnadipa Colombo, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with complimentary entry. It invites art enthusiasts, students, and the wider community to experience a rare and significant collection of his work.

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 through 45 solo exhibitions from the 1950s to the 1980s.

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

Programme Highlights:

• April 23 at 6:30 PM – Talk: “Jayantha Premachandra: Visual Thinking, Exaggeration, and Artistic Practice”Featuring Jagath Ravindra (Former Dean, Faculty of Visual Arts, University of the Visual & Performing Arts, Colombo) and Shanaka Amarasinghe (Attorney-at-Law & art enthusiast)
• April 24 at 5:30 PM – Session: “Insight for The New Generation by Jayantha Premachandra”Led by Ishani Senadhira (Master in Art – Shantiniketan, B.A., Colombo)Followed by:6:30 PM – Workshop & Talk: “The Art of Framing”With Shanila Alles (CEO, Curado) and Nalliney Thangavelu (Manager, Foto Design)
• April 25 at 10:30 AM – Workshop: “Art Techniques and Methodology: An Introductory Demonstration”Conducted by lecturers from the Painting Department, Faculty of Visual Arts, Colombo
• 5:30 PM – Talk: “Beyond Borders: The Shared Artistic Tradition of Jayantha Premachandra”With Dr. Bina Gandhi Deori (Assistant Professor, Visva-Bharati University)
• 6:30 PM – Talk: “Who Owns Art? From Closed Circles to Open Horizons”With Chevaan Daniel (Executive Group Director, The Maharaja Organisation)

Commenting on the collaboration, Keenan McKenzie, Area Manager for Sri Lanka and General Manager of ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo, said:“At ITC Ratnadipa, celebrating Sri Lanka’s artistic legacy is an integral part of our identity, reflected in how we showcase local artists across our spaces and engage with the wider creative community. Partnering with the Jayantha Premachandra Foundation is a natural and meaningful step forward for us, allowing us not only to honour an artist of international repute but also to create a platform that inspires and nurtures emerging talent through this exhibition and workshop series.”

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.”