Copper Art reigns
Jayanthi Liyanage
Rarely had the art of a goldsmith or a copper smith figured
prominently on Lionel Wendt's walls. When it did so in mid-October,
quite a number of art and curio lovers found the
|
Teachers, Damayanthi Kottegoda and S. Ratnagopal. |
collection of Copper
Art or Repoussage displayed by two nimble-fingered teachers and their
two enthusiastic pupils, whetting their hunger for something which
strayed from the ordinary course of art.
Over hundreds of works of copper art, fashioned by the four artists
after ancient motifs, was a pooling of their creative energies, finding
expression whenever each one could find free time to get away from the
cares of the world and happily lose oneself in the complicated business
of pushing sheets of copper with tools.
Damayanthi Kottegoda and S. Ratnagopal, the advocates of copper art,
and their pupils, Chandani Jayatilleke and Nelun Gunasekera, hope that
this first display of their work will draw more enthusiasts towards
learning this complex form of art.
If you are interested in finding out whether you have 'copper
fingers' and discovering the craftsmanship in you, Ratnagopal is
prepared to take you as a pupil and initiate you into the intricacies of
the art.
Copper art is said to have existed for thousands of years in East
Asia, originating from China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, India and
also South America.
Although copper craft is among Sri Lanka's traditional crafts, this
particular form of copper art is not found locally, the four artists
reiterated.
Damayanthi Kottegoda
She was the first to discover for herself the delights of copper art
as far back as 1986 and tantalise the other three with her creations so
that they could not rest until they too had dabbled in it and mastered
the art.
“I learnt it in Singapore when my husband was attached to the
National Hospital and the families were offered classss in photography,
woodwork and copper tooling. I chose copper art and quite enjoyed it,”
reminisced Kottegoda.
“Then my neighbour, Ratnagopal, saw me doing it and wanted to learn
it. I taught him and he is very good at it.” Kottegoda has tried her
hand at many a pastime which counts among them, doing mosaics with
broken pieces of ceramics for flower pots and garden paths but finds
copper art “a very relaxing hobby.”
As far as she is aware, the four artists are the only people to have
exhibited copper art in the recent times. “We heard that about 20-30
years ago, someone held an exhibition but we don’t know who it is,”
Kottegoda said.
“There are others in Sri Lanka doing this art but they have not
exhibited their work.”
Nelun Gunasekera
 A copper-tooled picture Kottegoda had gifted Nelun’s brother and his
wife was the centrepiece of Christmas dinner conversation at their
residence.
Nelun was eager to learn the art and the New Year began with she and
Chandani becoming pupils of Kottegoda and Ratnagopal.
Nelun suggested that Ratnagopal’s prolific copper works be exhibited
and the decision to display the creations of all four was born.
“It is a very good stress-buster,” said Nelun. “It is quite difficult
and takes a lot of physical energy. You have to be very patient and give
your total concentration to the drawing.”
Being employed at the Asian Development Bank, her Sunday mornings
have been reserved for copper tooling at Ratnagopal’s house.
“The four of us sit together and work on our copper art. You can
choose any picture.
As long as you can draw it, you can make it,” Nelun assured.
S. Ratnagopal
He began copper tooling in 1988, fascinated by his neighbour
Kottegoda’s absorption in it.
He had been the one with the largest amount of free time in hand and
contributed the highest number of exhibits, running a gamut of Hindu,
Sinhala and Christian motifs, with a great deal of criss-crossing lines
to be pushed. “Deepavali cards gave me some designs,” said Ratnagopal.
“Unless you are an artist, you might not know how to do the shapes
and lines of the figures you draw.”
The four prefer to buy original copper sheets from Singapore where
they are available in any amount of length and can be cut in pieces.
An art work could last about six years, after which it would revert
to the dull glow of unburnished copper and will need re-polishing,
Ratnagopal explained.
Doing Copper Art
Gauge 36 copper sheet, generally the best.
(The higher the gauge, the thinner the sheet.)
Choose a picture.
Using tissue, trace the picture onto the copper sheet.
Work on the picture from behind the sheet with tools,
mostly wooden (which gives this art,
the name Repoussage.)
The deeper the line, the more emphasis on the sheet
would be seen.
Polish, paint and remove paint off certain sections to
show the design.
Lacquer it.
Paste the art work on hard board.
|
