Mapping Matara: An iDiscover Experience

Spending time in Matara for the iDiscover workshop was an adventure in itself! I had the opportunity to illustrate the new Matara heritage map while also mentoring young students in illustration and concept development. The map highlights the architecturally significant locations in and around Matara Fort, and here’s the cool part—it’s augmented to feature the sounds of some of these places! Because history isn’t just about what we see, but also what we hear and feel.

A Walk Through Matara’s Stories

The workshop kicked off with an exploration of Matara—walking through the streets, observing the people, patterns, and stories hidden in plain sight. The students were encouraged to look beyond the obvious—to see the layers of history embedded in their own hometown. Alongside a dream team of mentors—Atheeq (Photography), Nadee (Creative Writing), Ester (Cultural Mapping), and Prathini (Research)—we helped students bring their perspectives to life.

Bringing It All Together – The Exhibition

Once the map was finalized, it was time to put together the exhibition, where the students proudly showcased their work. Seeing their creativity and effort come to life was honestly the best part of the whole experience. The final iDiscover Matara map & app turned out to be something truly special—a collective effort capturing heritage through art, sound, and storytelling.

Matara, you’ve been amazing! Until the next adventure. 💛