Colombo Fashion Week introduces an interaction between Fashion and Art 

CFW Frame to exhibit unique artists 

Art and fashion will flow passionately at CFW Frame, organized by upcoming 2016 HSBC Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) in association with ARTRA, a platform to showcase artists with unique and original points of view. To be held on 22nd February 2016 at the Land Rover Showroom in partnership with The Residencies at One Galle Face and ARTRA, CFW Frame will display art collectives and artists showcasing their viewpoints whilst working in different mediums to the delight of art lovers and the crème de la crème set of Colombo. The artworks have been curated by ARTRA, focuses on Visual Art, Performance Art, Design and Literature. This year’s edition of CFW Frame will showcase Saskia Fernando Gallery’s exclusive collection of works by P413 and ARTRA’s emerging artist, Kavan Balasuriya. 

Viewing art as a crossroad intersecting fashion, CFW Frame blends harmoniously with the fashion week’s diverse multi sensorial platforms that enrich the participants and visitors by the confluence of art and fashion. Perceived as the backbone of the Sri Lankan fashion industry, CFW uses Frame as a platform to bring alive the many facets of art, whilst apprising visitors of how fashion touches every aspect of our lives. 

CFW Frame is an expose of art, at which leading local art players are provided an opportunity to represent the works of their artists and promote their artistic agendas for the benefit of the growth of Sri Lankan art and the creative community. Showing at the upcoming CFW Frame, P413 is a self-taught artist from Colombo, with the internet as his primary source of art education and inspiration. Although he is fuelled digitally, his best work is delivered in physical form. Influenced by urban youth culture reflected by the internet, from street art, concept art, electronic music to the use of technology in art and entertainment, P413 looks to express underlying emotions and emotions they create through his art. Street art has been a big influence in how he executes art. His painting technique is evolved from his primary digital technique: vector art. Vector art is the complicated digital equivalent of a coloring book, which was easy enough to pick up and is difficult to master. Being a digital-first learner, he first explores a style digitally and then translates it onto the physical world, with acrylics, emulsions and other water-based paints. 

Having already held two solo exhibitions, Kavan Balasuriya, a BA Fine Art degree at the Central Saint Martin’s College of Art & Design in the UK interests lie in using archetypal motifs and vernacular conceptions as a design theory. Kavan’s selection is comprised of a series of drawings created in the midst of a painting practice and influenced during his time in university.  The collection is a study of perspectival, abstract and linear spacing, which reflects the artist’s search for a sense of the sublime in the midst of visually crafted phenomena.  Through a minimalist approach to scale, relation and composition, Kavan has been able to turn his attention to interpreting metaphysical symbolisms as a personal and technical discourse. The use of an inked, monochromatic palette has allowed him to express a certain methodology and a discussion of its design function. This combination of drawings is a comprehensive insight to the beginnings of a transformative process, which has guided the artist’s eye in establishing a coherent awareness of visionary design. 

ARTRA an esteemed publication, content revolves around renowned art personalities, emerging art personalities, art in day to day activities, art initiatives that take place outside Colombo, works of art by Sri Lankan artists showcased overseas, the Sri Lankan art calendar, regional art events, the voice of Sri Lankan art circles, art and architecture and Born Free Art – ARTRA’s alternative to wildlife photography, that focuses on the subject through an artistic lens. ARTRA a curator for CFW Frame, a niche event for discerning fashion and art lovers encourages the fusion of art and creativity in all its forms. 

CFW Fashion & Food - Il Ponte and Iko Tei at Hilton Colombo along with the restaurants at Park Street Mews, Café Francais, Park Street Mews, La Trattoria and Curve will be part of the fashion and food extravaganza from the 20th to the 26th of February. CFW Workshop by Rid Burman will be held on the 25th February at 9:30 am Hilton Colombo. The CFW Fashion Design Fund which supports the most impressive young designer who is a participant of the ‘Emerging Designer’ shows will also be selected being awarded funding for their collection along with guidance on how to kick-start his/her fashion career. This year over ten designers will be showcased at the CFW Emerging Designer Showcase 2017. 

HSBC CFW 2016 is enriched by its partners: HSBC, Hilton, Land Rover, Colombo Jewelry Stores, Wineworld, Olu Water, Vision Care, Unilever - Ponds BB, Ramani Fernando Salons, Spa Ceylon, Illy Coffee, Wijeya Group, Hameedia, Hellmann Logistics and Emerging Media – who share and extend their support towards the vision and aspirations of CFW. 

For further details, please visit www.colombofashionweek.com or follow CFW on Facebook (www.facebook.com/colombofashionweek), Twitter (@colombofw) and Instagram (@colombofw).