The Art and Architecture of Sri Lanka

On the night of September 25th the Distinguished Lecture series organized by Prof. Breda Ennis at The American University of Rome presented its second lecture of the 2007/2008 season. This one highlighted the art and architecture of Sri Lanka, an overview of its stylistic periods and some correlation to colonial European contact.

Bindu Urugodawatte is an experienced archeologist and independent Sri Lankan researcher with a Harvard education and a specialization in Cultural Heritage Management. She outlined the periods in Sri Lankan art and architecture spanning from the 3rd century BC to the colonial times, with a special emphasis on the architecture of the monuments and gardens: the Anurandhapura, Polonnaruwa, Transitional, Kandy and the Colonial periods as well as the examination of the image of Buddha and the representation of women in sculptural and relief art. She provided a rich view of these various styles, and perhaps for her great enthusiasm and an inevitable constraint of time touching briefly on some questions relating to a historical analysis and cultural practices.

There were also many images of women shown, which further raised some striking issues of relevance to a feminist analysis which could have significantly complimented her lecture. The lecture posed some very engaging questions regarding the relation of Sri Lankan art to the western viewer.

It was a fascinating evening which was concluded by a brief reception hosted by the Sri Lankan Embassy in which Sri Lankan refreshments were served.

The Distinguished Lecture Series, organized by Prof. Breda Ennis, will continue in the weeks to come offering next a presentation on the art of Caravaggio entitled: “Caravaggio ‘Pictor Egregius’ – ‘Mente Stravagantissima’ (The other Michelangelo)” by guest speaker Marius J. Zerafa on Tuesday October 23, 2007.

-Jesse Hart, AUR senior in Art History