Web of Life

There were colourful, woven mats on the ground. A few cushions were scattered here and there. On a low table there was a model of a trishaw made with mahogany, jak, rubberwood and other kinds of locally available wood.

Out of reach of children, was a shelf with a single ornament made out of decorated seashells.

The small, three-roomed house contained none of the heavy furniture which many Sri Lankans consider necessary for a home. No wonder so many get into debt setting up house after an elaborate wedding ceremony.

In tropical Sri Lanka, there is no need for wall-to-wall carpeting or plush settees to sink into. A few chairs and tables made of rattan can be both attractive and serviceable. An armchair or two to relax in at the end of the day and you have enough furniture and not too much.

Handlooms are not cheap but they are so peaceful if one chooses soft shades of green to soothe the eyes as you go to bed. Or one can sleep on mats and pillows on the ground saving the cost of beds. Besides, huge beds mean that much space is taken up while mats can be rolled up and put away during the day.

The recently concluded "Shilpa 2004" crafts exhibition at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Hall at the B.M.I.C.H. displayed the multi-faceted talents of Sri Lankan craftsmen and women. My imagination was captured by the beautiful carvings and the traditional brass trays and lamps as well as the innovative modern crafts.

Some day, when I have my dream home, I know exactly what kind of theme it will have. No, I will not fill it with imported paintings or imitations to give others the idea that I have taste.

How many Sri Lankans simply copy others and decorate their homes with a lot of unnecessary bric a brac?

When I was in Paris, I visited the Louvre museum and saw Leonardo Da Vinci's original painting of the "Mona Lisa".

In fact, a friend of mine who lives in and has travelled in the West confided in me that many visitors pass by the famous painting titled "La Joconde" because the woman herself is unremarkable, being a simple peasant woman.

It is her enigmatic smile that makes the painting unique and of course the fame of the Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci. Why then do so many Sri Lankan homes prefer to hang an imitation of the "Mona Lisa" in preference to the grace and beauty of our own Sigiriya maidens?

Taste differs from individual to individual but I think that many Sri Lankans simply follow others without questioning or finding out their own original taste. We in Sri Lanka are influenced by so many cultures that you and I have forgotten what simplicity means.

What is the point of having many many ornaments preventing one from admiring the beauty of each?

If only you and I had the luxury of starting life from scratch in our own home, what couldn't we do?

»First of all, I would have a garden with a mango tree if possible. I would grow vegetables and fruits as well as flowers. A sandy driveway and you would enter the small house with a welcome bowl of jasmines in water at the entrance.

High ceilings would enable coolness and there would be plenty of windows and doors to let in air and light. A skylight and a "meda midula" are part of traditional Sri Lankan homes to be indulged in if one has the space and the money.

The kitchen would be serviceable and not be cluttered with too many gadgets. "The Kitchen Prayer" would hang over the sink as I do my cooking and washing up, singing out of the happiness of having my own home.

I would have a patio or a balcony depending on my finances. I think it is essential to sit out in the evenings and on holidays, breathing in the fresh air and thinking over one's day and life. If you have space, a hammock can be strung across two trees and you can really enjoy life in this tropical paradise.

Let's re-think what we need in our surroundings and not clutter up our homes and our lives, reflecting the clutter inside our heads.

Sri Lanka has so much to offer and most of it at an affordable price if one is willing to look around or wait for an individual order to be executed.

Let's dream of a beautiful home on a Sri Lankan theme showing off the exquisite taste that has inspired generations of craftsmen and women uphill and down dale right here on this beautiful island.