On Tuesday night, I was proud and happy to be a part of this all-new selection of the Graffiti Art which came alive in the carpark of the Cinnamon red hotel. They opened their doors and provided a platform for expression and permanent exhibition for some of the most dynamic young stars of the island’s creative epicentre.
Now for the second consecutive year, red adds to what they first began last year, brightening up their five level carpark with more art and the stories of more Sri Lankan artists on their walls. This engagement between corporate and creative for the second consecutive year becomes a potential blueprint for how more business entities and creative professionals should engage with each other in a non-commercial manner that benefits both parties and the general public at large. It is also an assurance that Cinnamon red is very much a Colombo landmark and the premier location for experiencing the best of urban art and culture.
As Cinnamon red’s first anniversary approached on September 1, an art and design competition titled ‘red Rave’ was launched on August 3 via the hotel’s Facebook page, encouraging more artists to submit proposals and sketches for potential work to be added to the currently colourful car park featuring eight pieces from last year’s competition.
After a very positive feedback, they had the task of narrowing down the entries to five winners who would receive a Rs. 20,000 cash prize, art supplies and a full board stay at the hotel, and an opportunity to use the hotel’s wall spaces as their canvas. The submissions were truly overwhelming in terms of talent and creativity, and as a result, the team decided on 10 winners instead of the five they were originally meant to select.
Cinnamon red's General Manager Terrence Fernando commented, “We place high importance in bringing local talent to the spotlight and help upcoming artists continue their journey to rise in prominence. By providing these artists red’s vibrant spaces to develop their creative expressions, we hope we have done just that.”
This year’s winners include three artist collectives including Doodle Dumps, The Hermits and P413, the latter being featured the previous year with two pieces as well. Individual artists include Yogya Thalagala, Kavindu Abeysundera, Supun ‘Zetter’ Ravisanka, Lishni Tilakaratne, Stefan Pakinathan, Udani Samaraweera and Samithira Sriranganathan Sami all the way from Jaffna. Their respective pieces will add to the current collection of work at the Cinnamon red car park turning the space into a must-see art walk when in Colombo.
The 10 creative pieces speak about something unique and their stories are with each of magic you will find on the wall.
1. Doodle Dumps
Comprising - Joel Manoraj Paul, Shaarumathie Shekar, Aishath Zeeshan Hassan and Ali Falih. The MINI Cooper and Doodles fusion. As a piece, it narrates the mobility and journey of Colombo city over the years.
2. Kavindu Abeysundera and Aravinda Perera
The combined disciplines of Psychedelic Street and graffiti with new-age characters depicting life in the city and the constant battle between man and nature.
3. Lishni Tilakaratne
A convergence of characters and symbols representative of the characters of the urban metropolis, from the hero to the villain, coming together to tell an altogether different story.
4. P413 Mob
Comprising - Amrit Paulraj, Ekmini Weerasinghe, Chrishan De Mel and Aloke Joash Gunaratnam. Titled “Where the Wild Things Are” it attempts to look at the uniqueness of two seemingly strange characters and draw an original perspective on how they see the world outside, escalating the importance of individuality.
5. Samithira Sriranganathan Sami
Depicts the many hidden aspects of love and the element of mystery that surrounds a couple when they first fall in love. Bold red tones mixed with intricate black lining combine to make her piece truly unique.
6. Stefan Pakinathan
He depicts the heart of urban turmoil with a dark but powerful turn, using the colours red, black and white.
7. Supun ‘Zetter’ Ravisanka
Three human faces; the central figure represents Cinnamon red while the others, a male and female, depict the emotions of the moment the piece was created for. One character raises a glass to celebrate Cinnamon red’s first anniversary while the other represents the rave element brought in by our continuous support for creativity.
8. The Hermits
Comprising - Chamindika Abeysinghe, Diniru Abeysuriya and Adheesha Wickramasuriya. Titled ‘CAROUSELAMBRA’, their creation is a representation of the kaleidoscopic nature of the hotel itself, along with the contemporary Sri Lankan atmosphere and love for urban creativity.
9. Udani Samaraweera
Inspired by the works of French knife-painter Francoise Nielly, her painting of energetic portraits users vibrant colour strokes.
10. Yogya Thalagala
Depicts giant hands with a 3D feel, using variations of red, black and white to bring out Cinnamon red’s vibrant brand identity.
Hope you will drive by Cinnamon red soon to experience a drive place you might never want to leave.
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