Sahan Kulathunge - Water Remembers

Venue: Tanks Arts Centre

Exhibition: Tue 7 Apr - Sun 3 May
Launch: 5.30pm, Fri 10 Apr

Water Remembers invites viewers to experience familiar places in a new way, highlighting the subtle moments and quiet corners that define the character of Cairns.

Every artwork in this exhibition draws its subject matter from Cairns and its surrounding areas, reflecting the city through the perspective of someone who sees beauty in the unnoticed. While each subject is modified or recomposed for artistic expression, Sahan Kulathunge has remained faithful to the essence and spirit of the actual locations.

The exhibition places a strong emphasis on light and tonal values rather than relying on literal local colours. Through this approach, the works explore the emotional weight of atmosphere—how light shapes memory and how water carries stories.

Sahan Kulathunge is a multi-award-winning watercolourist, based in Cairns. Water Remembers is his first solo exhibition.

__________________________________________________________________
Artist Bio

Sahan Kulathunge is a Cairns-based watercolor artist whose work sits between Impressionism and Realism. Since arriving in Cairns, he has continued his artistic journey, developing a unique visual language that blends observation, memory, and personal reflection.

His work has been recognised with numerous awards, including Best 32 Artwork at the Australian Watercolor Muster 2025, Winner – Watercolor at the 47th and 46th Hinchinbrook Annual Art Awards, Winner – Watercolor at the 77th Cairns Annual Art Awards, Best Watercolor at the Hinchinbrook BirdLife Award 2025, Highly commended award at ARTchies portrait prize 2025, and the People’s Award at the Hinchinbrook BirdLife Award 2024.

Sahan places particular focus on the subject of his paintings first, then composition, an approach developed through thought and experience rather than formal learning. His main areas of exploration include cityscapes, landscapes, seascapes, waterscapes, and streetscapes. Stylistically, he follows a contemporary approach with an emphasis on light and modern techniques such as granulation, while valuing colour harmony and the use of a limited palette to convey mood and atmosphere.

Awards & Achievements
Australian Watercolor Muster 2025
Hinchinbrook 46th and 47th Annual Art Awards,
Cairns 77th Annual Art Awards
Hinchinbrook BirdLife Award 2024 and 2025
ARTchies portrait prize 2025

Image: Toogood Road - It's too good to drive, watercolour by Sahan Kulathunge 2025

Other upcoming events for this venue 'Tanks Arts Centre'
	Tue, 12th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Wed, 13th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Thu, 14th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 15th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 15th May 2026 Riebl Tedesco McGill 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Sat, 16th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Sun, 17th May 2026 Cairns Children's Festival - Free Family Fun Day 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Sun, 17th May 2026 Dive Deep Down curated by Sorami Ochi 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 22nd May 2026 Receive Respond 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 22nd May 2026 Playlunch Sex Ed Regional Tour 7:00PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 29th May 2026 Receive Respond 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 29th May 2026 Cookin' On 3 Burners 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Sat, 30th May 2026 Little Quirks + Minnie Marks 6:30PM Tanks Arts Centre		Sun, 31st May 2026 Tanks Markets - May 8:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 5th Jun 2026 Receive Respond 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 12th Jun 2026 Receive Respond 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Sat, 13th Jun 2026 Yoga + Live Music 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Sun, 14th Jun 2026 Yoga + Live Music 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 19th Jun 2026 Receive Respond 9:00AM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 19th Jun 2026 Kingswood 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Sat, 4th Jul 2026 Tanks Blues - Ray Beadle Ray Beadle 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Thu, 9th Jul 2026 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) 2026: Opening Night 4:00PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Thu, 9th Jul 2026 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Djawarray (World / Rock / Reggae Band) 9:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Thu, 23rd Jul 2026 Paul Dempsey - 'Shotgun Karaoke II' Paul Dempsey 7:30PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Sat, 25th Jul 2026 Driftwood EP Launch Driftwood 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 31st Jul 2026 Emma Memma's Jungle Picnic Tour Emma Memma's Jungle Picnic Tour 10:00AM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 31st Jul 2026 Emma Memma's Jungle Picnic Tour Emma Memma 12:30PM Tanks Arts Centre		Sat, 1st Aug 2026 19-Twenty 19-Twenty 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 7th Aug 2026 Sub-Tribe Sub-Tribe 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Sat, 8th Aug 2026 Brad Cox Multiple Dimensions Tour Brad Cox 7:30PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Wed, 12th Aug 2026 The Living End 'I Only Trust Rock N Roll' The Living End 7:30PM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 4th Sep 2026 Casey Barnes - Made For This Tour CASEY BARNES 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Thu, 10th Sep 2026 Phil Jamieson Phil Jamieson 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Fri, 18th Sep 2026 Vika & Linda "Where Do You Come From?" 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Sun, 27th Sep 2026 Sunny Coast Rude Boys Sunny Coast Rude Boys 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre		Tue, 6th Oct 2026 Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase 2026 Sydney Comedy Festival 7:30PM Tanks Arts Centre
	Fri, 16th Oct 2026 Lior with Camerata Lior with Camerata 7:15PM Tanks Arts Centre