From Ceylon to Sri Lanka (ongoing)
“From Ceylon to Sri Lanka” is a research-photography project which aims to explore the process of decolonisation in Sri Lanka by focusing on the expansion of tourism, both as a driver of economic development and as a source of territorial and social change.
The project started after the fortuitous discovery of a photo album called “The Hundreds Best Views of Ceylon”, which contains “points of interest for visitors”, as written in the album, when the country was still named Ceylon. The album was published by Plâté in the 1920s. Plâté, founded in 1890 and based in the capital Colombo, today still exists as a photography and art centre.
Thus, the work is going to be based on comparing historical and contemporary images to illustrate the transformation of the country.
“This project is supported by Strategia Fotografia 2024, promoted by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Italian Ministry of Culture”.
Cultural Partners:
Kaiya Collective
Careof
Technical Support:
Sony
Italia
The photo album “The Hundred Best Views of Ceylon” published by Plâté in the 1920s with the aim to suggest “Points of interest to visitors”.
The photography archive of Plâté, a Colombo-based photography and art center founded in 1890.
“Tamil ladies with ear and toe ornaments,” as written in the original album.
The Fonseka sisters, descendants of Plâté’s founders, run the company today.
“The ruined cities of Anuradhapura. Ruanwella Dagoba, showing elephant platform”, as written in the original album.
Ruwanwelisaya stupa in Anuradhapura, visited by both local and foreign tourists.
“Tamil lady in rickshaw”, as written in the original album.
A safari at Yala National Park.
The “Wennappuwa Project Room” event took place at Ulhtiyawa Beach, in the town of Wennappuwa.
26.05.2025, at 18.30
Talk with: Enrico Dal Buono, Diego Mayon, Raffaele Vertaldi (Link)
Careof presents “La miglior veduta,” a public talk dedicated to the photographic project “From Ceylon To Sri Lanka” by Diego Mayon, who will be in conversation with writer and journalist Enrico Dal Buono and curator and photoeditor Raffaele Vertaldi.
The talk is an opportunity to present this ongoing work and explore the themes of visual decolonization, landscape evolution and social and environmental impact of mass tourism.
Pilgrims cool off in a stream at Kataragama on their way to the temples.
Paper airplanes in the occasion of the talk “La miglior veduta” at Careof.
The talk “La miglior veduta” at Careof, with Enrico Dal Buono, Diego Mayon and Raffaele Vertaldi.