Juliet Coombe launches ‘Drawn to Galle Fort’

From now to the end of June you can see an exciting exhibition of sketches, water colours and photos in painted frames illustrating the ancient citadel at The Galle Fort Printers at number 39, Pedlar Street, Galle Fort. This stunning body of work was launched on Saturday 8 June – and what an epic evening it was in the old quarters history.

The launch of ‘Drawn to Galle Fort’ – the travel guide book and photography cum art exhibition by Juliet Coombe, Janeka De Silva and Rasika Gamage continued in that hallowed tradition of trailblazing events that the Sri Serendipity Publishing House has now become famous for and a dazzling soiree is precisely what she delivered.

Even with no power in the fort all day and having to clear trees off the blocked incoming roads at dawn, Juliet was not to be put off the challenge of launching her latest book with the passion she puts into everything. A packed crowd of Fort residents, both foreign and local, artists, journalists and photographers from Colombo, intellectuals, bank movers and shakers like Acting CEO of HNB Jonathan Alles, Bollywood casting directors and corporate magnates trickled in to this beautiful venue, a former bank turned school turned press before finally being restored into former merchant house glory by one of Bawa’s prodigal sons.

The white lighting flitted about the tables bouncing off the mahogany and the skirtings and the delicate seating arrangements and the almost electric sheen coming off the goblets and china and cutlery on the dinner tables to spread its glow across the face of the gigantic centrepiece flower vase and bobbing off the delightful pitter-patter of the guests with gleaming teeth before setting off the chiaroscuro power of the photographic images with their photogenic subjects, in their brightly hued painted frames – the air was awash and palpable with energy.

It was indeed a livewire act. With the exquisite hors d oeuvres and canapés and finger food passing around and the fine wines and punches in the form of cocktails starting to merrily flow the atmosphere was indeed heightened and animated as everyone eagerly looked at the exhibition that played with us using the photographic frame as a work of art.

The Fort people were fascinated by images of the old citadel and thronged to the centre room all the while admiring the iconic cover image of the book’s dynamic series of drawings set into a masterpiece. It was time for the speeches and wrapped in mirth what a wealth of information and knowledge they proved to be.

First up was the Galle Heritage Foundation Chairman who emphasised the need for comprehensive chronicles of this nature which encompass and highlight the glorious architecture and artisanship of those builders of lore adding also that it was indeed predominantly Portuguese architecture that surrounded us with the Dutch mainly being responsible for the military fortifications and the British who then expanded the types and uses of the buildings found here. His wisdom cloaked in wit was savoured by all present.

This then proved a stepping stone for the HNB Acting CEO’s address which looked at the more humanistic aspect of both the book and the exhibition and the vital need of the hour to respond to communal challenges and to rise above all petty differences and segregations to truly unite by educating the future generations.

The speeches were peppered by the compere, the publisher, author, artist extraordinaire Juliet Coombe, whose infectious verve and glamorous stunning dress style enraptured the audience as much of it was painted with sparkles and paintings from the fort, and there were smiles all around as she did a tango with the artist Rasika, as the astonished audience soon found out that the capes and back jackets that they were both donning contained a rhythmic motif from the exhibition – of the star studded sky and the solitary Fort lighthouse that joined together created a united scene of the fort.

The exhibition, put together with the untiring efforts of Yvette of the Galle Fort Printers Gallery, a sculptress herself, was off to more than a flying start – the town and the Fort was indeed being painted red.

The next speaker made a mockery of the team by regaling the crowd with their at times hair raising, death defying stunts and personal caricatures which kept everyone laughing senseless. Next up the drums and silver metallic clinks clashed as the southern devil dancers with their vicarious and hideous masks cut a swath through the crowd, deafening one’s ears, sending a shot of adrenaline surging through one’s veins.

Exhilarated and at once looking exhausted everyone seemed to need another refill before being escorted to elegantly placed tables of fours and groups for the three-course sit down meal served with relish by the Fort Printers restaurant team who were more than up to the task. A fusion of the Mediterranean, Moroccan, Italian and Spanish, the entrees were indeed plated up beautifully reflecting that this is the crossroads of trade that one almost felt sinful at the mere thought of dipping into eat it. Beetroot gazpacho, grilled calamari with capsicum aioli, avocado salsa and yellow fin tuna sashimi with ras el hanout were the star attractions of the first course while the mains consisted of a magnificent Sri Lankan delicacy in the form of lobster curry with basmathi rice and herb and citrus couscous, harissa, tahini, lamb tagine and citrus risotto. The conversation continued with treat after treat including homemade chocolates and pavlova. Named after the famous Russian ballerina, the Pavlova was topped off with some homemade passion fruit ice cream.

Elsewhere and afterwards the book retailing at Rs.3,500 too was selling like hot cakes with the author being constantly asked to interrupt conversations in order to sign and inscribe the inner cover as a token of appreciation and well wishing. Herman Gunaratne famous for writing ‘The Suicide Club’ gave an amusing behind the scenes dinner speech on the book and publishing.

The gaiety and the hilarity of the evening continued as the paintings too started flying off the walls.  As the midnight hour approached and the party spilled out on to the streets it was clear that a transformation had taken place here in the ancient and modern Galle Fort – a people had come together and it was clear that they were a new breed, a comet of unbridled energy unseen in previous epochs of the Fort unfurling, yet everyone at the event seemed steeped very much in a cauldron of respect for the Fort’s lustrous past and were determinedly intent upon reinvigorating it with a zest and zeal unique to them and this indeed is Sri Serendipity Publishing House’s and its mastermind Juliet Coombe’ greatest feat. The book is available at all leading bookshops all over this emerald Eden.

Review by Ruwan Jayakoddy