Spotlight by City of Dreams Sri Lanka and John Keells Foundation
City of Dreams Sri Lanka, in partnership with John Keells Foundation, presents the seventh edition of its Artist Spotlight series, ‘Urban Pop – Colombo Reconstructed’, a new exhibition by Sri Lankan multidisciplinary artist Charith Wijesundara, curated by Kasun Jayamanne.
Drawing from both his self-taught artistic practice and professional background in architecture, Charith’s work reflects a deeply personal interpretation of Sri Lankan identity. His compositions are informed by the textures and contradictions of the city, where old and new structures coexist, fragments of popular culture overlap with tradition, and everyday urban experiences become embedded with memory and meaning.
“Colombo especially continues to inspire me because it constantly feels unfinished and evolving. New developments sit beside older structures, street culture overlaps with commercial imagery, and different generations experience the same spaces in completely different ways,” says Charith Wijesundara. “Rather than documenting the city directly, I’m more interested in capturing its atmosphere, energy, and the feeling of living within it.”
Through layered imagery, familiar symbols, fragmented urban references, and moments of humor and irony, ‘Urban Pop – Colombo Reconstructed’ examines how culture is continuously reshaped within contemporary city life. The works draw from recognizable Sri Lankan visual language while reinterpreting it through a contemporary lens, creating moments that feel both nostalgic and immediate.
“I’m naturally drawn to familiar Sri Lankan symbols, myths, and everyday visual culture because they already exist within people’s memories and experiences,” he explains. “By reworking them through a more contemporary visual language, I’m exploring the relationship between tradition and the present moment.”
For curator Kasun Jayamanne, the exhibition arrives at a particularly significant time for Colombo as the city continues to evolve both physically and culturally.
“Charith’s work holds a compelling tension between architectural order and intuitive disruption. His compositions feel layered, fragmented, and alive, reflecting the complexity of Colombo itself,” says Kasun Jayamanne. “Rather than depicting the city directly, he reconstructs it through multiplicity and overlap, allowing audiences to experience Colombo through emotion, memory, and contradiction.”
Presented within the dynamic setting of City of Dreams Sri Lanka, the exhibition forms part of a broader vision to position Colombo as an emerging destination for contemporary art and cultural dialogue.
“Through Artist Spotlight, we aim to create meaningful platforms for Sri Lankan artists while positioning City of Dreams Sri Lanka as a destination where art, culture, and contemporary experiences come together,” said Kamal Munasinghe. “As Colombo continues to evolve, we believe supporting local creative voices is essential in shaping the city’s cultural identity and creating deeper connections between people, place, and experience.”
“Through the Artist Spotlight at Cinnamon Life, John Keells Foundation advances its dual commitment to empowering Sri Lanka’s creative talent, while leveraging artistic expression to foster a healthy, progressive Sri Lanka,” said Carmeline Jayasuriya, Head of CSR, John Keells Group. By catalyzing livelihoods in the creative sector and strengthening ecosystems for cultural expression, the program uplifts local artists while promoting dialogue, breaking social barriers, and enhancing Colombo’s identity as a destination city.”
The exhibition explores the layered realities of contemporary Colombo through works shaped by architecture, street culture, memory, and the evolving rhythms of urban life.
The novel concept of the Artist Spotlight has infused freshness within Colombo’s hospitality industry, attracting art connoisseurs, collectors, and art lovers to the iconic City of Dreams Sri Lanka, deepening the connections between Colombo and its culturally diverse inhabitants and visitors.
Till September 4, 2026
Level 23, City of Dreams, Colombo
