- Exploring the world of art in a changing world
Art has often captured our attention in a way that words often cannot. It expresses meaning, life and most importantly, authenticity. But even within art, authenticity can often fall short.
“I often go to Green Path, and recently, I went to Kala Pola to admire the artwork,” Vinura Abeysekara, 29, said. “I love the unique colours, patterns and styles, even if some of the paintings can have a sense of conformity.”
While many like Abeysekara choose to explore art, many people expressed their confusion with a sense of sameness in certain artworks. “It’s almost as if the paintings have been copied exactly from other artists’ work,” Abeysekara said.
Chasing realness
Every artist wants to sell their work to someone that appreciates it. Many often compete against other artists, established galleries and more recently artificial intelligence. In order to find out more about the nature of art knockoffs and the impact they have on the art ecosystem, The Daily Morning Brunch headed to Green Path, the popular street across from Viharamahadevi which boasts a selection of full-time artists who sell their work from roadside kiosks. The artists at Green Path practice full-time, and as opposed to curating gallery showcases, they take their work directly to the public through their stands.
By the nature of their work, they pay more attention to consumer trends than a traditional gallery artist would. “Many of us just want to make a living,” Sumith Saranga, an artist at Green Path, said. “We often draw what people want to see because we have families to feed. And sometimes it ends up looking the same.”
“Sometimes I feel trapped in patterns that sell,” Amal Perera, a painter who specialises in abstract forms, said. “I want my art to feel alive but the market is unforgiving. People love what they already know and they are always trying to bargain with us. So we do what we have to do to raise money.”
The tension between personal expression and consumer expectation raises an important question: can authenticity survive when economic pressures dictate creativity? Many artists believe it can but it requires conscious effort.
Exploring identity and originality
Art is not only a reflection of the external world but also of the artist’s internal landscape. Each brushstroke, color choice and composition carries a fragment of the creator’s personality. This is what distinguishes original art from works that feel fake.
“Art that lacks authenticity is often technically correct but emotionally empty,” Saranga noted. “You can see it in the way the colors don’t speak or the patterns don’t breathe. It’s like looking at a shell without the creature inside.
Audiences, too, have become more aware of copies.
Abeysekara shared that they can feel when a work is deeply personal versus when it is crafted purely to meet demand. This intuitive recognition reinforces the value of genuine artistic expression, even in a world dominated by reproductions and trends.
“I might not know the artist, but I can feel their story in the painting,” he said. “It resonates differently when you know someone poured their heart into it, however I often see the same themes and subjects such as Kandyan dances and temples copied again.”
The rise of artificial intelligence
In recent years, the conversation around authenticity has expanded to include artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in art.
AI programmes can now generate paintings, sketches, and designs that mimic human styles with astonishing accuracy. While some embrace this technology as a new tool, others see it as a challenge to the very idea of originality.
“AI can reproduce techniques faster than any human,” Nilesh Adipathy, a digital artist experimenting with machine learning. “It can imitate brushwork, color palettes, even the unique ‘imperfections’ that give art life. But the question is, does that make it art, or just a sophisticated copy?”
AI-generated pieces can inspire human artists, provide creative starting points, or even help visually translate abstract ideas. Yet, many worry that if audiences begin to accept AI work as equivalent to human-created art, the value of personal expression may diminish.
“Art is more than just aesthetics,” artist Anupa Perera explained. “It’s a reflection of human experience, thought, and emotion. AI can simulate but it cannot feel and it certainly will not replace human artists.”
Despite these concerns, some artists are experimenting with collaboration, using AI as a partner rather than a competitor. This approach allows creators to push boundaries while maintaining their own voice in the final piece. “I use AI to generate textures and patterns,” Adipathy said. “But the final arrangement, the meaning, the story; that’s mine.”
Preserving authenticity in a changing world
Even as technology and market trends influence art, authenticity remains a touchstone. Artists continue to search for ways to stay true to themselves while reaching audiences in meaningful ways. For many, this involves a conscious return to fundamentals: painting what they feel, exploring new ideas and resisting the urge to simply replicate what has been successful before.
Ultimately, art in a changing world is a conversation between tradition and innovation, commerce and creativity, human emotion and machine precision. While the landscape may evolve, the power of a genuine artistic voice remains constant. It is in that voice, that human touch, that the true magic of art endures reminding us that even in a world of imitation, the authentic will always shine.