If you know Sri Lankan history well enough, you could say that the nation values its art and it is was intertwined with its great civilisations. Upon arriving at the island, you could see the allure of Sri Lankan art in historic monuments, religious sites, and even old residential buildings, all of which boast at least some form of art. As you explore the island, you could observe that art stays synonymous with the way of life here!
The vibrant frescoes of Sigiriya, the wall art in Dambulla caves, the sculptures of Isurumuniya, the intricately carved moonstones of Anuradhapura are all excellent depictions of ancient art in Sri Lanka. Fortunately, form the descendants who made these stunning works of Art, crafts are still being produced.
Though there aren’t many galleries on the Island, there is a place where you could acquire brilliant specimens of art, created by talented artists – The Kala Pola! This is a temporary art gallery/art market that takes over the avenues of Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha every Sunday. Located in proximity to the Viharamahadevi Park, the market is easily accessible and you can buy amazing works of art at a great bargain. At the market, you could find different styles of paintings, and the most notable ones are modern, abstract, and surrealist artworks. Even if you are not planning to buy anything, it is a great place to see the creativity of local artists and to obtain an insight into the Sri Lankan realm of art!
Inspired by open art fairs that were occasionally held during summer months in the western countries, the idea of Kala Pola was conceptualised by the George Keyt Foundation and was launched in 1993 with only 35 local artists. Today it has been estimated that over 300 artists who live in different parts of the nation participate and benefit from this initiative. The primary objective of the Kalapola is to motivate native talent and to help local artists sustain themselves through their craft. Kalapola also acts as an avenue in which ideas can be shared among artists. It also has been envisioned that the community will collectively contribute towards conserving forgotten art forms and it would expand the knowledge of artists, helping them to master different styles in different genres of art!
Note: There is also an annual event held on the third Sunday of January, where most of the artists (over 500) who sell paintings at the market congregate and showcase their most prized works of art.
