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.
The project began with the fortuitous discovery of a photographic album titled “The Hundred Best Views of Ceylon”, which presents “points of interest for visitors”, as stated in the album, when the country was still named Ceylon. The album dates from the early 20th century and was published by Plâté, a photography studio founded in 1890 and still based in Colombo.
The work compares historical and contemporary images to explore the transformation of the country and the changing ways in which Sri Lanka has been represented and experienced through tourism.
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.
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.