Gunarathne leans into visual distortions to heighten the sense of fear and uncertainty in a style similar to the German expressionists and blends it with an explosive use of colours. Desolate and gloomy townscapes are reimagined as two-dimensional and laid-out like patterned textiles, as the unfamiliar opens its doors and invites the tacit possibility of warmth. His work echoes the feelings of anticipation that accompany many immigrants who leave their familiar lives behind to start anew. The pastel shades and vibrancy achieved by his pigment pen, convey a poetic hopefulness and joie de vivre.