Fashion designer Amesh Wijesekera holds first textile exhibition in Colombo

Fashion designer Amesh Wijesekera presented an array of textile art to explore the idea of ‘Homecoming’ at the Barefoot Art Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The exhibition launched with 30 original works by Wijesekera.

The designer, who has showcased collections at London and Berlin fashion weeks, launched his first ever textile art showcase at the Sri Lankan contemporary art gallery to critical acclaim, Barefoot Art Gallery announced on Facebook. Wijesekera repurposed photos used in his previous fashion campaigns and reimagined them amongst bright, textured weaves. The exhibition was curated by Vidhi Todi and also highlights Sri Lanka’s role in the global fashion industry.
 
“This body of work serves as a renaissance of Amesh’s creative journey showcasing an amalgamation of knit experiments, textile printing, and dyeing methods,” announced Barefoot Gallery on Facebook. “Amesh, a young and globally lauded fashion designer, delves into the intricate layers of his artistic progression and the boundless possibilities of textiles and print as a medium of expression in collaboration with Barefoot Gallery.”
 
With vibrant uses of colour and the addition of photos, Wijesekera’s textile pieces tell the story of his reconnection to his heritage. By using dead stock cut-offs and trimmings, the designer highlighted the importance of prioritising sustainability while also expressing oneself artistically.
 
“When your business grows, you sometimes lose the tangibility, tactile nature of your work and process,” Wijesekera told Vogue India about his work for the exhibition. “Working on this allowed me the opportunity, freedom, and creativity to return to my original processes, to… my home ground.”