Laaksha, which translates to “lacquer” in Sinhala, is a captivating fusion of creativity and craftsmanship that has thrived for centuries as a traditional craft in Sri Lanka. At the heart of this age-old tradition lies the meticulous process of shaping and decorating objects into stunning pieces of art, each piece tells a unique story.
Drawing inspiration from this intricate tradition, “Laaksha” room at 33 Lake Terrace, tells this story of a lacquer-work painter. His art decorates wooden boxes, vases, flutes and the handles of walking sticks. More than 1,000 years ago, when the ancient Buddhist jungle metropolis of Anuradhapura ruled over Sri Lanka, his ancestors lacquered the handles of ceremonial weapons for its kings and queens. His caste has an illustrious history.
The world has changed, but their methods have not. The bare wooden vase before him has already been stripped of its bark and sculpted into its shape using a simple lathe fixed to the ground, a bow pulled back and forth to rotate it. It is ready to be painted. Yet this painter uses neither paint nor paintbrushes. His pigments are made from a secretion called ‘lac’ or ‘lakada’, from lacquer insects, which deposit the resin on shrubs and the branches of trees. The resin is collected, mixed with mineral dyes and heated over a low flame until melted.
He pours the warm lacquer over the vase – red, black, yellow. Instead of brushes he uses slim sticks to trace geometric patterns across its surface as it is turned. Or sometimes he will use his fingernails if the pattern is very intricate.
The vase is finished. He steps aside to let his daughter practice her skills on a jewelry box. His son chose to become a tour guide, so the future of his lineage rests on her young shoulders.
Just as “Laaksha” room is a testament to the enduring creativity and craftsmanship of Sri Lanka’s traditional craft, your stay here is a part of that living story.