SOLA Festival was a passion project brought to life by one of my closest friends. It was a dream we’d always talked about—creating our own festival—and then one day, I got the call that it was actually happening in less than three months. From curating artists to shaping the entire vibe and aesthetic, four of us came together to pull off one unforgettable event in Sri Lanka. We wore every possible hat, from artist curation, to decoration installation, right up until the final moments of setup—when we found ourselves rigging iridescent chicken wire clouds into the coconut trees.
The design was a fresh take on vintage postcards and travel tickets, blending nostalgia with a modern twist. Blending hand drawn illustrations and textured papers, we aimed to make something instantly recognisable that was able to melt through and touch all aspects of the festival identity.
The festival came together even better than we could have ever imagined. Watching people dance and celebrate around the very things we had been frantically installing and setting up—left, right, and center—was an indescribable feeling. It was the most beautiful sight, seeing all that hard work transform into something alive and full of energy.
We ended up creating something that became a true destination event—people traveled from all over to be part of something we built from the ground up. It was a sunny, colorful, and beautiful experience, one we’re beyond excited to bring back again and again. Every moment of it felt like magic, and we can’t wait to do it all over again.
