Shades of Sri Lankan Arts & Crafts

 Tuesday, 17th of January 2023

 Shades of Sri Lankan Arts & Crafts

• Sri Lankan Mask Arts and Wood Carvings.

🔥   One of the world famous creation of Sinhalese Carving Arts. This is one of the masks of Sri Lankan dance art, Its called "Agni Raksha".

🔥   Red, Yellow, Orange, White colors have been used in this design symbolizing fire. This represents ferocity of fire.

🔥   Excellent among wood carvings, wood types such as Kaduru, Kumbuk, Mehogani are used. 

🔥   These masks can be pointed out as the images that take Sinhala art to the whole world.

Mask of "Agni Raksha"

• Sigiriya Wall Arts.

💞    An unparalleled creation of Sri Lankan Art. This is one of the rock art of Sigiriya and these paintings are the identity of Sigiriya.

💞    These paintings, which are said to have been painted during the era of King Kashyapa, depict Apsaras going to worship Pidurangala Vehera.

💞     Some peoples say that this is the Anthappura of King Kashyapa. Some say that it represents thunder and wind, so its named Vijjulatha and Meghalatha.

💞    This place, which has managed to win the tourist attraction, tells many elements of Sri Lanka's historical and artistic heritage.

Sigiri Apsaras

• Laksha Arts.

🔆     Laksha is a pigment made from natural ingredients. Red, Yellow, Black colors are very popular and Blue and White colors are made as other secondary colors.

🔆    The color can be maintained for a long time and is an indispensable color variant of Sri Lankan traditional paintings.

🔆    Laksha is used for Sesath handles, Carvings, Sticks, Canes, Pottery, Drum bodies, Lamps, Jewelry boxes and various home decorations. It is commonly seen around temple. During the Kandiyan era, many villas can be seen in "Gurukula" know as ancient schools. There is a special way to apply this.

🔆     The mixture is drawn as a sting by the artist while applying this, which is prepared as a special coating. While painting on clay pots or vessels, various shapes and patterns are created on the artist's hand.

🔆    After that. a coating of sesame oil is applied on the laksha coated vessel, which is kept in the sun. Ancient peoples was also used those art works to show the superiority of their generation

Laksha Arts on pots

• Stone Carvings and Statues.

🌟     The art of stone carvings goes back a long way. The king's day has undergone long changes, from the construction of palaces to the present day mechanical stone carvings. In ancient atone carving and sculpture. the skill of the craftsman was paramount.

🌟     This art of carving continued along with Buddha statues, Gods and Deity statues and various religious idols. Carving for home decoration and temples have been done from simple to complex patterns and carving pictures.

🌟     Flower carvings, Lotus carvings, Animal figures, Scrolls, Fire and Water, Buddhist customs, Jathaka stories, etc. Those events and Objects were the Basis of these carvings. ( There are many creations called Muragala, Moonstone, Wamanas, Gajasinha, Steps, etc.)

🌟     A chisel and a hammer were used in this stone carving. From delicate carving to large sculptures, the artist's creativity and thinking has influenced. Unbelievably beautiful and intricate carvings have been made by them.

Muragala

Stone Carvings on Ancient Ruins

Blog by - Chathuranga Lakshan Perera

               ( Undergraduate at University of the Visual and Performing Arts - Faculty of Music)