• Inoka Dias and Mahesh Wanigasooriya launch book of photography

Sri Lanka’s handicrafts industry is one that comprises a large number of crafts and artisans. These skills are often passed down from one generation to the other, often with little to nothing done to preserve and protect them.

However, two individuals are using photography to capture the intricacies of these crafts while also highlighting the skill and dedication of the artisans who bring these crafts to life. Inoka Dias and Mahesh Wanigasooriya have now launched a collection of these photographs as a book titled ‘Capturing the Handicrafts of Sri Lanka’.

The book was launched at Barefoot Gallery on 26 October, with the photographers recounting their journey of capturing Sri Lanka’s handicrafts.

How the book came to be

Neither Dias nor Wanigasooriya are full-time photographers, the former working in human resources and the latter in business operations. Sharing how he started working with Dias on the project, Wanigasooriya said it began with an email from Dias, which he found quite comical as the duo worked together and were seated just a few desks away from each other.

“I was wondering why she would want to send me an email on this. But, that also showed that she didn’t want to miss anything, because when you are talking, the possibility of you missing something is much higher,” he said, adding that the book had been Dias’ dream for a long time.

Dias’ interest in art began in school, and while she did art for her O/Ls, she didn’t have time to paint once she started working. “Then photography became one of those natural means of expressing creativity. And I always believed that photography is a fantastic way of communicating things. I don’t articulate things very well sometimes, but I find ways to do that with photography,” Dias said.

She was mainly involved with nature and wildlife photography, but realised she was nowhere close to other Sri Lankan wildlife photographers and that there was a lot of justice done for the country in terms of showcasing wildlife and nature.

Handicrafts were a familiar area for her, as Dias’ mother and sisters used to sew a lot, whether it was embroidery or crochet. This stayed on with her, Dias said, pointing out that she has always had an appreciation for the handicrafts.

And it is this that ultimately led to the creation of ‘Capturing the Handicrafts of Sri Lanka’.

A visual narrative

Host Marissa Jansz read out a message from the creative designer credited for the unique concept and design of the book, Emile Molin, who couldn’t be at the launch. Molin was introduced to Dias and Wanigasooriya in October 2020, and decided if they were a good fit via over-the-phone and in-person conversations.

“Once we started working together a couple of month later, we went through a lengthy process and lots of conversations that led to the design of the book that is printed today,” Molin’s message read, adding that the book looked at telling a story about each craft visually as opposed to with the use of words.

The team looked at bringing to the front the artisans behind the crafts – people and lives that are often not mentioned or seen – and presenting them in a way that becomes a visual narrative.

“It’s not an academic book about handicrafts in Sri Lanka. Neither is it a complete picture of all the handicrafts in Sri Lanka. It is a visual journey through the handicrafts in Sri Lanka through the eyes of two passionate Sri Lankan photographers who love their country,” Molin added.

Dias’ childhood friend Andrea Jayatilleka also spoke at the event, urging those in attendance to pick up a copy or two. Saying she picked up a preordered copy a day prior to the launch, Jayatilleka shared: “I took it home, my two daughters sat around me, and we had a conversation for almost 45 minutes just going through the book.”

She said the book brought to life the story of the artisans and what they do and thanked the creators for bringing this book to her home. “I think it should be in our homes, where we really get to see the artisans’ work; not just the work they do, but the lives they live, the stories they speak, and how they weave these together.”

While Barefoot’s Dominic Sansoni also addressed the gathering, sharing his thoughts on the book, architect Channa Daswatte spoke about how the book captured the work and skill that goes into creating something, no matter how small.

He explained that, in his line of work, it was easy to purchase products in bulk from countries like Thailand or China, but that shining the spotlight on handicrafts created in Sri Lanka gave an entire tradition a newer life and a hope for the future.

This patronage and support are encouraged by books such as ‘Capturing the Handicrafts of Sri Lanka’, which give people a look at the hands that build things. “Inoka and Mahesh’s book remind us that they are not just objects that we place on a table or have on a wall but actually things that have been made by hand,” Daswatte said, appreciating and congratulating Dias and Wanigasooriya on their efforts to visit artisans, get involved in their lives, and document their skill and knowledge.

PHOTOS Venura Chandramalitha