TALES OF AN ISLAND
2019
Then someone said, “We will return no more”; and all at once they sang, “Our island home is far beyond the wave; We will no longer roam.”
– Alfred, Lord Tennyson “The Lotus Eaters” (1832)
Although pure returns are never possible, tales of bygone days still lurk around every corner, shaping, re-stitching, and even cutting through the fabric of the present. Figures, images, and texts linger like specters, sometimes magical and dark, sometimes light hearted and warm, reminding us of a rich and incredibly complex past. The collection “Tales of an Island,” inspired by Kandyan temple art and costumes, draws from and plays with this long standing heritage in order to narrate a tale that embodies both the ancient and the contemporary.
THE COLLECTION
DETAILS
This inaugural Navyāti collection, “Tales of an Island,” emerged from an exploration of Sri Lanka’s Kandyan Era’s artistic heritage. Each print began as a hand-painted motif inspired by the intricate temple art of the period. The collection also featured hand-painted textiles and delicately hand-embroidered floral details worth hundreds of hours labour, bringing together craft, culture, and modern design in every piece.
