🐓 Galle Fort through the Eyes of Edward Atkinson Hornel

Historic Galle Fort through the Lens of Edward Atkinson Hornel

Scottish artist Edward Atkinson Hornel (1864 – 1933) is internationally recognised for his intricate paintings of maidens in romantic woodland settings and portraiture. In exploring Hornel’s photography, curator and art historian Ismeth Raheem and ARTRA Editor-in-Chief Azaara Jaleel take guests on a guided tour of the exhibition depicting rural life in the early 20th century Ceylon. Drawn from collections in the custody of the National Trust for Scotland, exhibition includes the artist’s photographs portraying the heritage and historicity of Galle Fort, featured across ARTRA Magazine’s Galle Fort in the Contemporary (Edition 66, 2024) celebrating the rich tapestry of the South of Sri Lanka.

Azara Jaleel

Azara Jaleel is the Founder & Editor-in-Chief of ARTRA Magazine, a Sri Lankan Modern & Contemporary Art Magazine established in 2012. Having published over 65 editions, she has interviewed more than 1000 art personalities including the late Laki Senanayake, Barbara Sansoni and Ena de Silva. She has worked with art academics, critics, and historians of local and international repute including C. Anjalendran, David Robson, Ismeth Raheem, the late Prof. Qadri Ismail in building an archive of art essays, interviews and critiques through the years. In her capacity as ARTRA Director, she has partnered with established art galleries, festivals, foundations, embassies and banks in increasing the consumption of Sri Lankan Modern & Contemporary Art. Azara received her BA (Hons.) in English from the Department of English, University of Colombo and completed Postgraduate Studies & Academic Courses in International Studies, Marketing & Communications from BCIS (SL), CIM (UK) and University of Virginia (USA).

Ismeth Raheem

Ismeth Raheem is an architect by profession and is based in Colombo. One of his chief interests is in the visual arts of Sri Lanka’s colonial period. He has organised and written catalogues for a number of exhibitions on the history of painting and engraving. His publications include Images of British Ceylon: 19th Century Photography of Sri Lanka (2000), as well as works on subjects such as the Dutch Burghers of Sri Lanka and furniture from the colonial period. Ismeth has contributed entries to The Dictionary of Art (London, Macmillan 1996). Also an artist, Ismeth has exhibited his work in Sri Lanka, Europe and the USA.