‘Night Market’ and ‘Art Auction’ celebrate Kala Pola’s 20th
anniversary
Mike Anthonisz
Kala Pola, the annual open-air art market initiated by The George
Keyt Foundation with the sponsorship of John Keells Holdings, will be
hosted for the 20th time this year. Being the 20th anniversary, the
organisers have planned this year’s Kala Polato be a two day event
January 26 and 27.
 Based on the concept of the open-air art markets of Europe such as
those at London’s Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens and Paris’ Place du
Tertre at Montmartre, the Kala Pola has established itself today as the
much looked forward to event where aspiring artists and art students, as
well as even some of the established artists, display their work, see
and discuss art with others of their ilk and meet up with art lovers and
potential buyers.
Today, a drive past the National Art Gallery will invariably find
many paintings adorning the railings of the Vihara Maha Devi Park, as
young artists display their latest creations. Influenced by the success
of the Kala Pola, the concept of a genuine open-air art market has
already begun to germinate.
At the inaugural Kala Pola, George Keyt, when driven past the fair by
Sita and Cedric de Silva, had been most enthusiastic with what he saw
and had declared how honoured he felt to have his name perpetuated with
an event that was to give up and coming artists an opportunity to
display their skills and so spawn a whole new generation of artists.
This aspiration the Kala Pola has well achieved. Among the new
artists who have made their mark at this annual event are such
recognised names as Channa Ekanayake, Sudath Abeysekera, Indral De
Silva, Edwin Batawala, Indika Pathmananda, Pradeep Jayatunga, among
others, whose work today is much sought after by art collectors.
Some of the already well established senior artists have also
regularly displayed their work at the Kala Pola, including W. Nayananda,
Seevali Illangasinghe, P. Badugodahewa, among a host of others.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the organisers have planned a
number of special events for the occasion. The art fair will be extended
on the first day to a night market and is scheduled to go on until 10pm.
A series of lectures will be held on Saturday afternoon from 2.00 pm to
6.00 pm on a range of art-related topics that would be of interest to
connoisseurs of art from both the artists and art collectors’ points of
view.
This would include a movie on the art-great Picasso and a lecture on
the preservation and conservation of art by Sri Lanka’s premier art
conservator and restorer Udaya Hewawasam, as well as talks by
internationally renowned artist/lecturers from the USA. After 7.00 pm
there will be live music provided by a group of leading jazz musicians
and drummers, to keep visitors entertained while they stroll around the
grounds and ponder their purchases.
Sunday will see an ‘Art Auction’ where connoisseurs will have the
opportunity to acquire the work of some of Sri Lanka’s leading
contemporary artists. The auction will be held at the Art Gallery and
will commence at 10am. The paintings to be sold will be on display from
the morning of the same day and prospective buyers could put in their
bids from early morning on the basis of a silent auction. However all
bids will be considered when the live auction commences and the lots
will be knocked down to the highest bid whether from the silent auction
or the live-one later. A catalogue on the paintings to be auctioned will
be printed, and made available, prior to the event.
Meanwhile, the Colombo’s art galleries too have been approached in
order to co-ordinate their exhibitions and ensure a truly artistic
weekend on 26 and 27 January 2013.
So art aficionados, remember to make a note of the dates and be sure
to visit the Kala Pola 2013.
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