Kandy – a sketch book, essentially an interesting collection of monochrome and colourful sketches accompanied by effortless descriptions, is yet another reflection of Vasantha’s constant yearning to establish a faithful dialogue with his environment.

The book opens with a landscape drawing embedded with the Temple of the Tooth Relic- the most visited historical edifice in the hill capital. Although the world renowned temple has been given due credit here, Vasantha opens our eyes to less frequented yet beautiful places in and around Kandy, sandwiched between these colourful pages.

The old yeoman’s house in the corner of one of the busiest streets in Kandy never looked so beautiful. Left to deteriorate beyond recognition due to lack of interest and lack of knowledge, Vasantha brings the building to its past glory through well informed conjectures leaving us in awe. The additions of the two brightly coloured ‘tuk tuks’ on either side of the building, circling the facade, is a metaphor according to him, of the fate our heritage has befallen owing to veneration of anything modern.

In yet another drawing we are forced to look beyond the majestic elephants of the vibrant ‘Kandy Perahera’. The paintings of the young dancers tell a story of agony and ecstasy, of hope and optimism, a tussle of tradition and young aspirations.