At 34, my father lined up outside a gallery in Sydney at 3am, waiting to purchase a work by Donald Friend. Decades later, he has a reputation of buying the best works from the exhibitions in his own gallery. Our lives growing up were filled with memories of dusty antique shops, and to this day my father will travel to remote parts of the island or small towns in Europe to seek out an addition to his ever-growing collection. It is this never-ending desire, bordering on obsession, that most clearly demonstrates his determination and dedication to collecting and creating beautiful spaces. So important is the position of every object and flow of every room that he is often known to arrive at houses and re-arrange their coffee tables. For my father, there is never an excuse for being poorly dressed or owning kitsch children's toys; every tiny detail of life must be tasteful.
Shanth Fernando’s home is possibly the finest art gallery you’ll ever see
September 18, 2025
