Reimagining traditional Kolam
View(s):
Mano Prashanth
Balachandiran Kajeepan
The Barefoot Gallery Colombo is currently hosting “Side by Side”, an exhibition by Jaffna based textile and accessory brand Kolam. The exhibition explores the intersections of art, craft, and design through contemporary interpretations of the Tamil tradition of Kolam.
Curated by visual artist and Professor of Art History at the University of Jaffna, T. Sanathanan, the exhibition invites audiences to reflect on “Kolam” (a daily ritual of drawing colourful and intricate patterns on the ground using rice and grains for good fortune) as both an art form and a reflection on creativity, memory, and community
Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Suntharam Anojan
Vinson Chanthiradas Vimal
Drawing inspiration from the Kolam Craft Initiative founded in Jaffna in 2017, “Side by Side” brings together the works of four university-trained artists: Suntharam Anojan, Balachandiran Kajeepan, Mano Prashath, and Vinson Chanthiradas Vimal. Each artist engages the idea of “Kolam” in unique ways – through mixed media, copper, textiles, and everyday materials – challenging the boundaries between art and craft while showcasing their creativity and reflections on reimagining what Kolam means in Northern
Sri Lanka’s cultural landscape.
The exhibition opened on October 2 at the Barefoot Gallery and will continue until October 25, 2025. Visitors can explore the collection Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 706 Galle Road, Colombo 03.
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