Kala Pola : 2015 unfolds on January 25
Sri Lanka's internationally acclaimed open-air Art Fair - Kala Pola
will unfold on January 25 along Nelum Pokuna Mawatha in Colombo.
Presented by the George Keyt Foundation in association with the John
Keells Group, Kala Pola 2015 opens at 8 a.m. and will continue for 13
hours non-stop until 9 pm the same night.
As in the past, Kala Pola is expected to attract several thousands of
visitors from different parts of the country as Colombo explodes in a
psychedelic riot of colour.
Drawing inspiration from similar open-air art fairs in Europe,
notably Montmartre in the French capital Paris, Sri Lanka's Kala Pola
has morphed into a rich cultural event over the years and is today a
much-awaited and not-to-be-missed event in Colombo's annual cultural
calendar.
Presented since 1993 by the George Keyt Foundation, Kala Pola has
continued to enjoy the generous patronage and strong partnership of the
John Keells Group over the past 22 years under its corporate social
responsibility program which is committed to supporting the development
and promotion of the arts and culture of Sri Lanka.
Pivotal role
"Kala Pola has played a pivotal role these past two decades as a
successful catalyst in enhancing a keener appreciation of art among the
public of Sri Lanka", said the Chairman of the George Keyt Foundation,
Cedric de Silva.
"The number of both artists and visitors has grown rapidly and this
year too we expect an even larger turnout.
Apart from fostering the creation and appreciation of good art, Kala
Pola is also a lucrative source of income for the artists.
We are again thankful to the John Keells Group for its invaluable
patronage and the tremendous source of strength it has been to us during
these two decades", de Silva said.
Head of CSR John Keells Holdings, Nadija Tambiah said the benefit
that both artists and the community derived from Kala Pola was a
manifestation of John Keells Foundation's vision of 'Empowering the
Nation for Tomorrow'.
"Kala Pola is an important launch pad for artists and sculptors to
embark on and build their careers and has launched several artists at a
national level and some even in the international arena.
At the same time it provides a platform for artists to learn from one
another and permits society at large to appreciate local art, thus
fostering Sri Lankan art in a multitude of genres and styles.
From modest beginnings Kala Pola has grown into an international
event and we are happy to see more original Sri Lankan art adorning the
walls of homes and offices both in Sri Lanka and overseas".
Art gallery
John Keells Foundation continues to host Sri Lanka's first corporate
digital art gallery ( www.srilankanartgallery.com) enabling Sri Lankan
artists to showcase and sell their work throughout the year to local and
foreign buyers. The main website, Sri Lankan Art Gallery, also hosts the
"John Keells Art Gallery" which is a platform for a collection of
curated art, selected by a panel of curators who are experts in their
field.
The curated site, thereby also provides an aspirational element to
the artists who are registered on the Sri Lankan Art Gallery as they are
able to benchmark their work against the curated selections for their
own development and growth.
As it has always been in previous years, Kala Pola 2015 is free and
open to the public. A major tourist attraction, it is billed to attract
thousands of visitors from all parts of Sri Lanka and from different
parts of the world.
They will indulge in its atmosphere of bonhomie, camaraderie and
cultural entertainment and bask in the infectious feeling of an exciting
summer art-fest right in the heart of Colombo, Sri Lanka. |