Lumbini blossoms with Sri Lankan art
R S Karunaratne
Lumbini in Nepal has become a hive of activity with Jayasiri Semage
and his team putting up statues, painting murals and constructing
pandals to keep the Theravada tradition of Buddhism flourishing in this
sacred city where Prince Siddhartha was born.
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Semage engaged in his delicate brush-work at Lumbini |
At present, a visitor to Lumbini is greeted by a host of Mahayana
Buddhist temples. Although attempts had been made by the past
Governments of Sri Lanka to put up a temple in this sacred city, they
did not materialize.
The situation has undergone a vast change with President Mahinda
Rajapaksa's elaborate plans to put up Theravada Buddhist shrines,
temples, statues and murals depicting Sri Lanka's rich heritage. The
Government has entrusted the onerous task with Jayasiri Semage who has
gathered long years of experience in executing similar assignments.
As a result of the ongoing work in Lumbini, pilgrims will have the
benefit of using restrooms and view some of the best artistic creations
of Sri Lankan artists. Under the direct guidance of the President, the
work of these projects is now underway. Initially, a bronze statue of
Prince Siddhartha standing on a lotus was installed at a temple in
Lumbini. The 3.5 feet statue was ceremonially opened by a group of
Mahanayakas, Ministers, and Ambassadors. Meanwhile, the scenes depicting
the birth of Prince Siddhartha are being painted on the walls measuring
19 ft by 10 ft at a shrine room in Lumbini.
The mural is done by Jayasiri Semage and his team. Having worked
under difficult weather conditions, Semage is back in the island on a
short holiday. However, he will have to fly back to Nepal to complete
the mural that will be fascinating as Ajantha or Sigiri frescoes.
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Semage in conversation with Minister Chamal Rajapaksa when he
visited the sacred worksite a few days ago |
After finishing the mural, Semage and his team will find themselves
busy painting the life story of the Buddha on the other walls. He has
also been assigned the task of decorating the ceiling with traditional
paintings. The ceiling will be embellished with louts flowers and other
traditional liyavel and other line drawings. The Sri Lanka temple now
being built in Lumbini will have a unique Makara thorana (pandal) at its
entrance.
The 40-foot high pandal is to be put up on a concept of Semage. A
team of Sri Lankan traditional artists will assist him in this arduous
task. The Makara Thorana will be decorated with the sun and the moon,
Punkalas, Kothkerali, Liyavel, picture of swans, and lotus flowers. The
figures of lions, representing the Yapahuva era, will adorn the pandal's
entrance. There will also be a Sandakada Pahana, representing the
Anuradhapura era, at the entrance to the Makara thorana.
The statues, murals and the ceiling, when completed, will be
prominent among the temples built by other countries in Lumbini.
Kalasuri Jayasiri Semage is credited with the creation of the massive
Mangala Vihara in Singapore. His murals in the temple have been praised
by visiting pilgrims for their authentic Sri Lankan traditional art.
In addition, his painting depicting the Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta,
placed at Man-Fah-Lam Vihara in Singapore is said to be the biggest
Buddhist painting in the world. He also built a massive 60-ft high
pandal at the Asia Pacific Exhibition held in Japan. Semage's pandals
have been the main attractions at the Expo exhibitions held in several
countries of the world.
In the sacred Sala Vana - the picturesque park at Lumbini, where the
Prince Siddhartha Gothama was born, a magnificent Buddhist edifice is
being built on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The
State of Nepal has rendered its patronage at the highest level.
In charge of the paintings and sculptural work is Jaysiri Semage, one
of Sri Lanka's foremost artists, who has held several solo exhibitions
in many lands of Asia and Europe.
A few of his paintings are on permanent display at several
international institutions abroad and is better known in Sri Lanka as an
outdoor decorator whose mega creations such as the toranas (decorative
archways) have beautified entrances to various national exhibition
venues and their surroundings.
Whatever be their size his work is unique and is in a very
recognisable indigenous character. |
