mask

Sri Lanka Ceylon 1916.9.225 Name and identification of character A soldier/warrior, hevaya (or hevarala or heva kolam) (Sin.). Context This character appears with a group of soldiers in the first stage of the Kolam performance, in the dance of the warriors, heva kolam (Sin.). The soldiers enter the place of performance in order to uphold law and order. Their duty is to maintain discipline prior to the arrival of the royal party (vide Preface). Material Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica). Iconography A broad, open and distorted mouth. The face is of reddish brown complexion. The shape of the face is asymmetric. The eyes are turned sideways in different directions. Although the mouth is distorted and hollowed with a few teeth in the upper jaw, it demonstrates a broad grin. The forehead is dented and has a furrow. The wide-open mouth and the whiskers painted around the mouth are normally present in animal masks. 2000 06 03 Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka 1916.09.0225 1916.9.225 Name and identification of character A soldier/warrior, hevaya (or hevarala or heva kolam) (Sin.). Context This character appears with a group of soldiers in the first stage of the Kolam performance, in the dance of the warriors, heva kolam (Sin.). The soldiers enter the place of performance in order to uphold law and order. Their duty is to maintain discipline prior to the arrival of the royal party (vide Preface). Material Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica). Iconography A broad, open and distorted mouth. The face is of reddish brown complexion. The shape of the face is asymmetric. The eyes are turned sideways in different directions. Although the mouth is distorted and hollowed with a few teeth in the upper jaw, it demonstrates a broad grin. The forehead is dented and has a furrow. The wide-open mouth and the whiskers painted around the mouth are normally present in animal masks. 2000 06 03 Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka 1916.09.0225 Sri Lanka Ceylon