ZMAX Fairway Colombo takes on leading role in Colombo Art Biennale

From 2-20 December, Colombo will be the location of the Art Biennale 2016, an exhibition of art, architecture, music and performance centred on the theme, ‘Conceiving Space’.

2 December saw ZMAX Fairway Colombo host the opening event of the exhibition. The hotel’s rooftop lounge bar proved to be the perfect location for the evening’s activities presenting guests with an incredible view of night-time Colombo. The evening began with a performance by Samson Ogiamien and the Ceylon African Manja titled, ‘Re-encounters’.  

Following this was a visual display of the process of digital sculpting by artist, Sumit Sarkar, whose work, Odzihozo – ‘He who makes himself from nothing’ was displayed at the event. The colourful paintings of artist, Udani Samaraweera were also on display. The evening also saw guests been enthralled and entertained by mesmerising video jam sessions. 

Thus far ZMAX Fairway Colombo has served as a hospitality partner of the Art Biennale 2016, offering lodging to visiting artists who have described their stay at Sri Lanka’s most technologically advanced city hotel in glowing terms. 

“It’s been a really good stay,” stated James Binning, an architect and member of Assemble. “The hotel is in a really great location and it’s been very easy getting about whether it is to the market in Pettah or Slave Island or to the restaurants. I think it’s a quiet and relaxed set up. It feels homely and pleasant which is really nice because at the end of a very busy day during the Art Biennale you get to come back and relax without being overwhelmed by too many people and a lot of noise.” Speaking about the artwork featured in the hotel, Binning had this to say, “I see a strong relationship between the culture and the land, and I think the artwork plays on that. The paintings are truly extraordinary.”

Producer, Amica Dall said, “It has been a very comfortable stay at ZMAX Fairway Colombo. To come back to a place like this after a really busy day is just great. The setting of the rooms and washrooms make it easy to unwind, it is the very epitome of the term ‘smart luxury’”. Dall was very much involved in the Biennale’s program in Slave Island and stated, “It’s an opportunity for us to learn from them and for them to learn from us.”

The ZMAX Fairway Colombo has pledged a commitment to the environment and to art. An integral feature of the hotel is the 300 works of art displayed throughout its premises. Sticking to the ‘one hotel, one artist’ concept, the paintings are by renowned artist, Anoma Wijewardena, and focus on the environment and the notion of sustainability. The ZMAX Fairway Colombo has a total of 181 rooms with an ‘Anoma Print’ in each. The paintings in the bedrooms are one of six images from the Moonrise Tide-fall I – VII Series, which are quiet and contemplative works that explore the fissures and striations of the earth with minimal pops of colour. 

Fairway Holdings has always striven to be more than a leading real-estate developer. The organisation promotes worthy causes such as environmental preservation, healthy living, music and the literary arts. The primary belief of the organisation is ensuring a sustainable future and with ZMAX Fairway Colombo playing such a prominent role in this year’s Colombo Art Biennale, Fairway Holdings serves to ensure the development and promotion of the arts in Sri Lanka.