Getting Tranz’ed ­– through music and art

Driving along Galle Road, the onset of Hikkaduwa is easily recognisable with the kaleidoscope of colour that assails you on both sides of the road. Colourful boho-chic prints jostle for space with the colourful masks of Ambalangoda exuding more hues, tales and legends, while the transfixing notes of faraway music add to the esoteric feel of the beachside resorts that are so characteristic of Sri Lanka.  

The art wall at Chaaya Tranz will be the first contemporary art on public display

Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa embraces the arty cultural facets of Hikkaduwa with passion and excitement, imbibing them into its very heart and soul in a bid to permeate that almost kabbalistic mysteriousness that encompasses the Hikka Psyche.  

For instance, simply look at the resort’s large lounge wall and you will see award winning contemporary artist Vajira Gunewardena’s tour de force, a truly record breaking masterpiece and the largest contemporary art wall in Sri Lanka, spreading across a massive 2,222 cms, standing at 200 cms in height.  

Vajira, uses unconventional patterns of acrylic colour on 13 canvas panels to create ‘A day in the life of a couple visiting Hikka,’ collating the panels in an unusual artwork that’s surely assimilates the Hikkaduwa vibes.  

The artist said: “What inspired me are the bright colours, the masks and the printed fabric that the architect Channa Daswatte has used around the resort.” His impressive resume includes solo exhibitions at the Paradise Road Gallery, Alliance Francais De Colombo, Barefoot Gallery and Lionel Wendt and showings in Tanzania, Cuba, the UK, Germany, Austria, Netherlands and Bangladesh.  

Having taken a full 130 days to complete this imposing commissioning, he says: “The depictions on the art wall are something that people will certainly not expect to see at a beachside resort. It’s figurative and semi-abstract, which is my style, in which my production takes all, from subject to materials, transposition, rhythm and style.  It basically speaks of my own individuality and is not founded on trends, imitation or even classical art forms but rather has a multi-disciplinary contrivance that’s metaphoric and brings in a feel of a psycho-dynamic composition.”  

As Chamika de Alwis the Project Architect from MICD Associates explains, “With Channa’s idea of introducing the colour palette of Hikkaduwa in various forms including the masks and chintz in the furnishing, Vajira’s language of art, which is unique, will bring it all together in that vibrancy and dynamism that generally emanates from his paintings.  

He really is the ideal person to translate those facets of Hikkaduwa, and also depict the fun and a little bit of the eclectic eccentricity that’s the persona of this very unique destination.”  

Chamika believes that the creativity found within Chaaya Tranz imbibes the true feel of ‘Hikka’ into its very being, whether it’s the riot of colour, the local legends and beliefs or even the heady trance music that has become the Hikka signature in recent times.  

Taking a leaf from that, John Keells Holdings Deputy Chairman Ajit Gunewardene commissioned one of Sri Lanka’s most renowned composers and drummers Chris Dhason (a.k.a CJ) of Wildfire fame to compose an album of music on the concept of Ibiza’s famed Cafe Del Mar, that would be synonymous with the sights and sounds of Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa.  

Comprising eight tracks, CJ as this composer of the ICC Trophy 2002 theme song ‘Rainbow out of sight’ and the corporate song for SriLankan Airlines ‘We are Sri Lankan’ is known, brings in a collaboration of local and foreign artistes to produce an album of World Music.

“People who came to Cafe Del Mar to watch the stunning sunsets, found themselves enjoying the ambient and somewhat eclectic music being spun by the house DJ forming the perfect backdrop for ultimate pleasure,” states CJ, who adds that this cool chilled out music eventually became a world renowned brand and, at Chaaya Tranz, the eventual idea is that the Tranz music that Chaaya Tranz will introduce, will embrace what is special about Hikkaduwa, “to evoke memories wherever you are, of the golden beaches, the sunsets, the sea, the colour, the vibrancy or even the simple pleasures like watching the boats going out to sea.”

CJ brings in Andrew Oh on saxophone and flute and Sri Lankan born Chitral Somapala, a musician based in Germany to collaborate on the album, while world music exponent Kohinoor who’s due to perform in Sri Lanka in November will also be working on two songs.  

Duleep Gnanakan, Srimal Liyanage and Pabalu will be some of the collaborating musicians from Sri Lanka.  

“World music transcends all music genres where a song could begin with an Asian flavour and you could have tribal, classical, jazz in between, ending up with hip hop.  

Some tracks will have lyrics, some just melodies and some just melodic with a hint of lyrics maybe but it all speaks of freedom, where there are no boundaries.  Chaaya Tranz is about that isn’t it?” he asks.  

True indeed. The freedom to ‘tranzform’ and ‘tranzend’, being able to be yourself and journey into the great unknown is the Chaaya Tranz ethos.

 This unfolding of the creative arts which are a part of the Chaaya Tranz experience will truly enable those visiting the resort to feel it and relive it, over and over again.