La miglior veduta
La miglior veduta comes from a research-photography project initially titled “From Ceylon to Sri Lanka”, which explores 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.
I first travelled to Sri Lanka between 2019 and 2020.
Shortly after that trip, I discovered a photographic album from the early 20th century titled “The Hundred Best Views of Ceylon”. The album already had a clear tourism purpose, suggesting “points of interest for visitors”, as stated in the introduction. It was published by Plâté, a photography studio founded in 1890 and still based in Colombo.
The discovery of the album led me to consider a comparison between my photographs and those in the album.
The project was developed after a second trip to Sri Lanka in 2025, when I looked for and photographed some of the places featured in the historical album, and in a few cases photographed the same places I had photographed during my first trip.
This creates a double layer of comparison: between my photographs and those in the historical album, and between my own photographs made at different points in time.
Together, these images reflect on how places and their representations change over time, while tourism continues to shape the way Sri Lanka is experienced and seen.
The research for this project was supported by Strategia Fotografia 2024, a grant promoted by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Italian Ministry of Culture, with the involvement of two cultural partners, Careof and Kaya Collective, and technical support provided by Sony Italy.
The original album and Plâté Ltd
The photo album “The Hundred Best Views of Ceylon” published by Plâté in the early 20th century 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.
Talks and events
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. Graphic Design by Barbara Virginia Tedeschi.
The talk “La miglior veduta” at Careof, with writer and journalist Enrico Dal Buono and curator and photoeditor Raffaele Vertaldi.