1. A Masterpiece of Landscape Architecture:

Brief Garden is the masterpiece of Bevis Bawa, the talented brother of Sri Lanka’s legendary architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Bevis transformed this once modest rubber estate into a living canvas of artful gardens and captivating vistas. Every turn within the garden reveals a meticulously crafted space, featuring sculptures, statues, fountains, and other art installations thoughtfully placed amidst a breathtaking natural backdrop.

2. Stunning Botanical Diversity:

Nature enthusiasts and horticulture lovers will be awestruck by the diverse collection of plants and flowers within Brief Garden. The garden boasts an impressive array of tropical plants, exotic orchids, and rare foliage, each thriving in its unique microclimate. Visitors can stroll through winding pathways lined with lush greenery and immerse themselves in the vibrant colors and fragrances of this tropical paradise.

3. Artistic Delights at Every Corner:

Brief Garden is a living testament to Bevis Bawa’s artistic vision. Throughout the garden, you’ll encounter an eclectic mix of sculptures, statues, and quirky art installations, all carefully integrated with the surrounding nature. From abstract art to traditional sculptures, each piece adds an element of surprise and delight, making every step a new adventure.

4. Unraveling the History:

Beyond its stunning aesthetics, Brief Garden holds a rich history waiting to be uncovered. Visitors can learn about Bevis Bawa’s life and contributions to Sri Lanka’s architectural heritage through guided tours or by exploring the garden at their own pace. The stories behind the garden’s creation add an extra layer of appreciation to its beauty.

5. Photographic Paradise:

Photography enthusiasts will be in their element at Brief Garden. Every angle presents a new photo opportunity, whether it’s capturing the play of light and shadow on the foliage, framing the artistic sculptures, or photographing the exotic blooms in their full glory.

In conclusion, a visit to Brief Garden in Bentota is a remarkable experience that combines art, nature, and history in an exceptional setting. This living masterpiece of landscape architecture has the power to captivate travelers of all ages, leaving them with unforgettable memories of Sri Lanka’s enchanting beauty. So, make sure to add Brief Garden to your travel bucket list and get ready to be spellbound by the allure of this tropical paradise.

Often it is mentioned that Colombo is not the heart of relevance. That we are a city of imitators and late adopters, riding waves on the cusp of their cease.

I always felt that whatever this city may lack, it made up for in promise.

Colombo is Hydrogen left unattended to explode. The promise of this city’s people can barely be contained. Here is a city brimming with intricacies that will write itself into the legacies of tomorrow.

But, for now Colombo is waiting on a spark.

In its current context, what the promise of Colombo most direly needs are catalysts. Catalysts of change and transition. Cinnamon Colomboscope 2015 will consist of a talks and literature segment appropriately titled ‘The City. Identity. Urbanity.’ The literature of Colombo has seen movement in recent years. The exploration of the city and its urban identity through the convex of literature is now certainly an apt task.

The writers, poets and artists need a voice to call their own and that voice needs strength. Strength of numbers and strength of surety. Numbers and surety that widely accepted platforms in the calibre of Colomboscope are able to provide.

The idea of taking up writing or any medium of art as a career is to date discouraged. Even when the Ashok Ferrys, Karen Roberts and Shehan Karunatilakas, among hosts of others have made their mark in the regional and global communities.

This isn’t surprising. Colombo and Sri Lanka as a whole has lived in fear for decades. It’s almost as if fear and mistrust are our primary modes of living. Time will cure those wounds and from those scars will the greatest tales of our generation be spun and woven.

Till then, we must nurture and encourage, and shine light in dark corners, where the next Graetian winner may be waving down the roadside tuk-tuk or hopping the typically late salmon-packed bus.

Only by walking the path often walked can anyone find the right direction and leave their own footprints in the side-tracks. The criticality of mentorship and communal learning can be addressed best by platforms such as the Cinnamon Colomboscope, so kudos to the organizers and the very many industry veterans both Sri Lankan and foreign for signing up to empower the city’s voices.

Our story is worth being told in crowded theatres and sold out stadiums. Our past, present and future is a deserving muse for any masterpiece. As a people, we have tested and overcome adversity, as a nation we have tasted victory and defeat. There isn’t a reason that as a country, we shouldn’t speak up, as loud as we should for our story to be heard.

Make time and clear your schedules, head over to the Cinnamon Colomboscope and enrich your artistic spirit and intellect. With any luck, you’ll witness first-hand the spark that ignites Colombo’s Hydrogen, with any more luck, you just might be that igniting molecule.

Written By:  Dilshan Senaratne

as told by Ajit Gunewardene

“The world ‘ticks’ on Economics. Everything is connected to demand and supply. The feasibility of Art, in the same manner is one that has economics as its dependent variable”.

The current status of the Sri Lankan Artist has been discussed and bewailed in many a conversation and forum, but a clear cause and a solution for it, is not something that can be easily prescribed.

In my view, what needs to happen is for Sri Lankan Artists to elevate their existence to the global market. Just like in Economics, there are two elements that need to be created; Demand – in the form of buyers, art connoisseurs and Supply in the form of Sri Lankan artists making an effort and raising the bar to produce ‘true works of art’ rather than mere paintings.

Contemporary art in Sri Lanka came out into the open around the year 1943 when the famous “Group of 43” was formed. Before this, what we had were mostly religious paintings which can be found in temples and shrines around the country. This group included some of the best artists the country has seen in recent times; the likes of George Keyt, Ivan Peries, Harry Pieris, Justin Daraniyagala, L.T.P. Manjusri among others. This was indeed a renaissance for Sri Lankan art. Even in the year 2014 we still talk about the revolution that these artists created at the time. The creativity and the depth of their work is something that is a rare find even today.

Unfortunately though, we have lacked a sequel to 1943. We are thirsty for a ‘Big Bang’ that is so crucially needed in the Sri Lankan art scene and as a result the question still remains – “When are we going to have the Sri Lankan, Million Dollar work of Art?”

One might wonder whether this is too far-fetched a vision; but, with the caliber of some of the contemporary art that exist in Sri Lanka, this is more realistic than over-optimistic. A revolutionary event such as this with the same properties of the cosmological big bang is what Sri Lanka needs to put its art on the map and open the floodgates of opportunity for the local artists.

As a compliment to this, a greater understanding and appreciation of art should be developed by the people as well. Why not replace those bulky gold door knobs or huge silver plated ornaments and rather invest on art – good art?

We try to control our spaces and clutter it with a mix-bag of everything that we like. We fail too often to revel in the simplicity and beauty that Art can give to our spaces.

Art is essentially a part, of something bigger. A sculptured chandelier as opposed to the traditional crystal one hanging in a dining room may be very artistic but more-so, it will give the dining room in itself an extra sensory feel. It gives character to a space while also enhancing the ambience of the space in itself. A work of art therefore should have the capability of doing this and this should be the benchmark that every artist places his work against.

Sri Lanka certainly has a lot of talent that has not been directed and showcased in the most optimal manner. The Kala Pola which took place last Sunday can be taken as an example. It featured quite a few young artists who have the capability of making a name in the future. The objective of an event of this sorts, is for the upcoming artists to get a feel and understanding of the market for art in Sri Lanka. At the same time there are more senior artists for whom the Kala Pola is a place to collaborate with their fellow colleagues as well as appreciate the new creative work.

The Colombo Art Biennale can be named as the next stepping stone from the Kala Pola and events such as these are very important for the development of Sri Lankan artists. The mixing of international and local artists is a brilliant element that is brought in at the Biennale. This will create a comparative and also put the Sri Lankan artists and the work produced by them on the same platform as their global counterparts.