Browsing by Author "Peduruhewa, C.D."

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The Impact of Colonialism on Traditional Sri Lankan Temple Painting: A Case-Study Based on the Southern Coastal Region
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Peduruhewa, C.D.
The aim of the present study is to identify the characteristic features and elements which signify the Western/European influence on the local mural painting tradition of Southern temples. The so-called developments that occurred in Sri Lanka's social, political, economic, and cultural spheres during the 18th and 19th centuries were marked significantly by the inculturation of western elements into those in Sri Lankan maritime life. Such elements inevitably merged with the temple painting tradition in the low-country maritime regions, despite the fact that their roots are found in the central Kandyan style simultaneously. The encounter with colonialism is described as a watershed in Sri Lankan history as well as in the tradition of temple paintings. The rationale behind the particular derivatives is the use of Western elements in the temple paintings without a meaning or a proper context. Evidently, the building elements, garments, trees, and various other elements in the paintings are highly decorative and the backgrounds of the paintings often depict Western decorative motifs i.e. roses, grapes catena and design elements influenced by the Rococo style of western art tradition instead of their root characteristics absorbed from the Central Kandyan designs and motifs. European attires, architectural elements and furniture are not rare in the temple paintings of the southern coastal belt. The compositional techniques, treatment of the human postures, and the color palette of the Southern school of painters also have distinctive characteristics which differ from the Central Kandyan style. An in-depth study of these characteristics makes it clear that the socalled socio-political factors i.e. the destruction of temples in the maritime region, the amplification of catholic campaigns, cessation of the Sinhala Kandyan kingdom etc., have affected the Buddhist monastic life in the Southern coastal region as well. A detailed survey of the literature pertaining to the period was conducted to reveal the factors affecting the Western influence on the Southern maritime region. This study examines the paintings of selected temples of the region in order to identify the characteristic elements of the painting tradition that evolved in and around the region, which identified them as the “Southern painting style” by scholars. This study is based on qualitative research Methods.
The Importance of using Digital Technology in Archiving Temple Murals in Sri Lanka: Case study based on the Southern Coastal Region (Galle District).
(International Conference on the Humanities (ICH), 2017 Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Peduruhewa, C.D.
A large number of temple murals belong to Kandyan era in Sri Lanka are being in an endangered stage due to negligence, vandalism, and natural causes such as water seepage, sunlight, insects, bats, soot etc., Many of these temple murals are at a poor level of conservation despite they are in the list of ‘Protected Monuments’ or recognized as National Heritage in Sri Lanka. Moreover, many of the murals located in these temples are not archived in a proper way. The particular situation emerges a rationale to addresses some ways and means of restoring the temple murals that have a historic and artistic significance of Sri Lankan traditional painting with regard to its form, style and techniques applied. Thus, the aim of this paper is to emphasize the significance of using digital technology for the purpose of archiving and preserving the heritage of temple murals. The study is mainly based on fifteen (15) selected temples of the Southern Coastal Region (Galle District) in terms of restoring and archiving them for future purposes. Field visits, museum visits, and literature survey were conducted to identify and obtain the background knowledge on both traditional painting of the particular period and the specific aspects of digital tools and techniques. The results suggest that many of the temple murals that are not properly conserved physically can be archived using available digital technology and can be utilized as informative sources of Sri Lankan temple paintings during the particular period.
Lack of Knowledge in Understanding Colour: A Case Study Based on University Students
(In: Proceedings of the International Postgraduate Research Conference 2017 (IPRC – 2017), Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Peduruhewa, C.D.
As a basic element of art, color plays an indispensable role in visual arts and design. It sets the mood and evoke the desired feelings of an artwork or a design. Thus the knowledge about color should be an integral part of the teaching and learning process of visual art. This study examines the extent to which the school curriculum of Sri Lanka employs the fundamental knowledge about color to improve the understanding of school students who learn ‗Painting‘ as a subject. In this study, a questionnaire and a practical test related to color was given to a sample of 30 university students who have chosen to study visual arts as one of their subject in their first year. The results of the practical test suggest that many of the students lack the basic knowledge and understanding about the attributes of color such as hue, shades, tints and tones. The result of the questionnaire suggests that nearly all the students have not properly learned about basics of color at school level due to the fact that the school curriculum of art (painting) does not contain the basic elements and principles of visual art. It can be assumed that many graduate teachers who follow the curriculum and the given time-table, are not encouraged to include this fundamental knowledge in the teaching process.