Local artists flourish and several hold exhibitions either in hotel lobbies or in galleries. Popular private galleries in Colombo are The Gallery Café (2 Alfred House Rd) and Barefoot (704 Galle Rd) and there is also a National Art Gallery (106 Green Path). An open-air one-day-only art exhibition for any artists who want to exhibit their work is held annually in Colombo and many amateur artists from towns and villages display their work. In Kandy, Thilanka Hotel has a perpetual but everchanging exhibition of local artists’ paintings that can be bought through reception. Sri Lankan paintings, in general, are uninhibited with a bold use of colour although many seem to be copies of other local artists’ work.
There are several dance performing groups whose shows can be seen at tourist hotels in Colombo and on the coast. There are also occasional performances by local classical (both Western and oriental) orchestras and by choirs, particularly at Christmas. As well as many groups who play bland and ancient pop music in hotel lobbies and casinos, there is a small coterie of heavy-metal musicians, and some jazz too. Local pop music tends to be rather melodramatic, harping on unrequited love, while traditional airs have a bouncy rhythm that soon gets people dancing. Beach hotels sometimes feature musicians in silly straw hats warbling popular songs like ‘Yellow Bird’. There are discos, too, either temporary ones for hotel guests or major ones in Colombo.
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