Māra : Kingsley Gunatillake
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Māra, a figure from Buddhist and Hindu traditions, has long symbolized the internal struggles that hinder spiritual and personal growth—embodying obstacles like fear, desire, and doubt. Kingsley Gunatillake reinterprets the mythology of Māra, transcending its traditional role as an antagonist. In Gunatillake’s reimagining Māra speaks not only to the turmoil of the human psyche, but to the quiet tribulations of the soul. This series is a reflection of the artist’s interiority—where struggles and fulfillment coexist, where Māra is not conquered, but understood, as we move through life with its many contradictions. The figure of Marā manifests through the physicality of Gunatillake’s chosen mediums; from detailed copper sculptures to the broad calligraphy strokes across canvas and washi paper. Inspired by the expressive linearity and rhythmic motions of Chinese and Japanese ink paintings Gunatillake’s sculptures and paintings attempt to communicate the untranslatable weight of the psyche.
The strokes that drape the canvas in Kingsley’s compositions display a sense of dynamism charged with a controlled energy. The artist employs a lyrical palette layering vibrant patches of reds, blues and yellows with darker tones, allowing the luminosity of the primary shades to seep through the folds of his calligraphy. Gunattilake exploits the inherent qualities of materials to craft textured ribbons of color with a singular, sweeping motion. His process is both meditative and uninhibited unfolding in striking fluid gestures. The recurrent motif of an eye permeates Gunatillake’s paintings in Marā where circular perforations resembling cosmic eyes allow neon yellow and scarlet red shades to bleed through the outer layers offering brief glimpses into a hidden realm.
In Shrine of Silence a series of 1001 miniature copper sculptures embody the demonic form of Māra. The choice of copper as a material—grounded in both its tactility and its historical association with the divine—reinforces the formidable physical presence. The miniature figures arranged on a tiered pedestal create the impression of the figures descending from an unknown origin, resembling the march of a celestial army. Each miniature figure is meticulously crafted and imbued with a unique essence as the posture and expression of each is distinct from one another.
In Gunatillake's sculptures, Māra’s form is both imposing and intriguing, with the artist playing on scale, evoking awe and delight. While the figures exude a certain intensity, they simultaneously possess a toy-like quality that elicits intrigue, blending elements of introspection and wonder. This duality reflects the artist’s playful, uninhibited perspective, where sensitive themes are softened by a sense of whimsy, inviting multiple avenues of understanding. The miniature sculptures are accompanied by a large sculptural representation of Māra, brandishing an infernal expression and poised in battle. The sculpture demonstrates Gunatillake’s masterful engagement with metal, using its malleability and texture to render intriguing creations that probe and provoke. The installation takes Sanjūsangen-dō Temple and the thousand-and-one statues of Kannon, the goddess of compassion in her thousand-armed form. Shrine of Silence offers an intimate and venerable presentation that encourages the audience to engage with the historical and spiritual context of Gunattilake’s practice.
Marā invites the viewer into a contemplative space where the complexities of the human psyche are both challenged and celebrated. Through the vibrant and luminous energy of Kingsley’s expressive paintings and Gunatillake’s intricately sculpted representations of Māra, the exhibition walks the line between the divine and the demonic, the playful and the profound. In Gunatillake’s perspective , Māra is not simply symbolic of struggle but a motif that aptly conveys the multi-faceted nature of existence. Marā invites the audience to embrace the turmoil of the soul and find significance in the constant unfolding of experience, rather than in resolution.
