There are art exhibitions that simply display paintings, and then there are exhibitions that invite visitors to pause, reflect and experience something deeper. Artful Echoes , opening at the WelcomArt Gallery of the ITC Ratnadipa Hotel in Colombo from 14 to 30 August, promises to belong firmly in the latter category.
Bringing together five accomplished Sri Lankan artists, Artful Echoes is more than a group exhibition. It is a dialogue between different artistic philosophies, life experiences and creative journeys that converge on common themes of humanity, memory, resilience and nature. Each artist brings a distinctive visual language, yet together they create a rich tapestry that celebrates both individuality and shared human experience.
The exhibition features the work of Swarna Abeytunge, Anura Srinath, Samanthi Hemamali, Nilanthi Weerasekara and veteran artist B Wimalaratne. Although their techniques, inspirations and professional backgrounds differ remarkably, they share an unwavering belief that art has the power to communicate emotions words often cannot.
Visitors can expect a collection that moves comfortably between abstraction and realism, textured experimentation and vibrant storytelling. Rather than following a single artistic style, the exhibition embraces diversity, allowing each artist's unique perspective to complement the others. It is precisely these contrasts that make Artful Echoes compelling.
For many artists, creativity is a lifelong companion. For others, it emerges more prominently after careers in entirely different professions. The latter is particularly true for Swarna Abeytunge.
After spending 36 years as Group Company Secretary of the Hayleys Group, Swarna decided to pursue what had once been a forgotten passion. Today, she is recognised for paintings that combine contemporary aesthetics with cultural motifs and reflections on the natural world. Her use of colour is intentional and deeply emotional. Rather than serving merely decorative purposes, colours become a language through which she communicates feelings, memories and hope. Her paintings seek to calm the mind while encouraging viewers to look inward and interpret each work through their own personal experiences.
Swarna's artistic journey demonstrates that creativity knows no age. Her works have already found collectors in countries including Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, India and Australia, reflecting the universal appeal of her visual storytelling.
While Swarna returned to art after a successful corporate career, Anura Srinath has devoted decades to pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.
Having worked in leading advertising agencies as an illustrator before establishing himself as an independent artist, Anura is known for challenging convention. His paintings blend satire, realism and imagination to explore social themes with remarkable precision. Narrative lies at the heart of his work. Every canvas tells a story, inviting viewers to examine society from unexpected perspectives.
His artistic philosophy centres on experimentation. Rather than remaining within familiar artistic conventions, Anura constantly seeks new forms of expression that surprise audiences and provoke thought. His illustrations and comic art have reached multiple generations, while his paintings have entered private collections in 18 countries. His extensive portfolio also includes commissions for the Central Bank, Sri Lanka Air Force Headquarters, the Moon Bastion Museum in Galle Fort and numerous humanitarian organisations.
Equally distinctive is the work of Samanthi Hemamali, whose artistic journey began in an entirely different classroom.
A trained mathematics teacher, Hemamali eventually left education to become a full-time artist. Yet traces of her analytical background remain evident in her carefully balanced compositions, where structure meets imagination. Her work transforms everyday materials such as sand, broken ceramics and natural textures into richly layered artworks that celebrate renewal, memory and overlooked beauty.
Her paintings often evoke dreamlike landscapes filled with warmth and optimism. Inspired by Sri Lanka's wildlife, landscapes and traditions, she believes beauty exists in ordinary moments waiting to be rediscovered. Every textured surface tells its own story, encouraging viewers to pause amid the fast pace of modern life. For Hemamali, art is not simply about producing attractive images. It is about preserving memories, honouring familiar places and reminding people that inspiration can be found in the simplest elements of everyday life.
Questions surrounding identity and womanhood take centre stage in the work of Nilanthi Weerasekara. A graduate of the University of Kelaniya who later earned a First Class Master's degree in Fine Arts from New Delhi, Nilanthi has built an international reputation through exhibitions in Sri Lanka and overseas.
Her paintings frequently explore the strength and vulnerability of women. Rather than portraying idealised or controlled figures, she presents women as complex individuals shaped by both resilience and societal expectations. Natural materials, including coconut fibres and textured surfaces, become integral to her artistic vocabulary. Each brushstroke reflects not only the artist's intention but also the unique character of the materials themselves.
Her celebrated Fabricated Women series examines how society moulds women's identities and expectations. Through bold colours, expressive abstraction and layered textures, she invites audiences to question assumptions about gender while appreciating the richness of contemporary Sri Lankan artistic practice.
Completing the exhibition is veteran artist B Wimalaratne, whose artistic career demonstrates the enduring power of lifelong creativity.
After retiring early from a senior managerial position at a state bank, Wimalaratne devoted himself fully to painting, transforming decades of passion into an accomplished artistic career. Today, he is widely respected for his abstract interpretations of nature, where colour, texture and movement replace literal representation.
His paintings seek to capture not merely landscapes but the emotional rhythms that exist within them. Flowing colours and dreamlike compositions encourage quiet contemplation while celebrating humanity's enduring relationship with the natural environment.
Among his many achievements is the creation of the monumental eight-foot by sixteen-foot mural depicting the Kandy Perahera, permanently displayed at the People's Bank Head Office in Colombo. Over the years, he has held seven solo exhibitions across some of Sri Lanka's leading galleries, further cementing his reputation as one of the country's distinguished contemporary artists.
Although each artist follows a different creative path, Artful Echoes succeeds because of the conversations their works create with one another. Themes of nature recur throughout the exhibition, but never in identical ways. Human emotions are explored from multiple perspectives. Memory appears both as personal reflection and collective experience. Even silence finds expression through colour, texture and form.
The exhibition also reflects an encouraging trend within Sri Lanka's contemporary art scene. Increasingly, artists are emerging from diverse professional backgrounds, bringing with them fresh perspectives shaped by careers in business, education, design and public service. Their varied experiences enrich their creative practice and broaden the stories being told through visual art.
Hosting the exhibition at the WelcomArt Gallery inside the ITC Ratnadipa Hotel also reflects the growing role hotels and hospitality spaces are playing in supporting local artists. Such venues introduce contemporary Sri Lankan art to both local audiences and international visitors, helping create new opportunities for collectors while strengthening Colombo's cultural landscape.
As visitors walk through the gallery this August, they will encounter far more than paintings on walls. They will discover five artists inviting them into deeply personal worlds shaped by decades of experience, observation and imagination.
Whether one is drawn to abstraction, narrative realism, textured experimentation or expressive portraits of humanity, Artful Echoes offers something that resonates. It reminds us that while artistic styles may differ, the emotions they seek to express are universally understood.
Ultimately, the exhibition lives up to its title. These are indeed echoes, not repetitions, but distinct voices responding to one another across canvas and colour, inviting audiences to listen not only with their eyes but also with their hearts.
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