Taking art to the people at GotaGoGama
Contributing some additional colour to the peaceful protests at the Galle Face Green came naturally to self-taught British-Sri Lankan artist, Yasodhara Pathanjali. In April this year following the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Yasodhara began work on an artistic project to be displayed at GotaGoGama using an updated version of a painting she had created following the Easter bombings in 2019.
So many coming together: Yasodhara’s art work pieced together at Galle Face
Her original drawing depicted a map of Sri Lanka becoming enveloped by a ribbon of blooming flowers coloured with shades of the Sri Lankan flag to symbolise unity. “I did that drawing to show how we can come together and bloom as one,” she explained.
This time, she used the updated illustration and recreated it on a larger scale by printing separate parts of the motif on 288 sheets of A4 size papers in order to initiate an activity designed to help people understand the value of their small actions and how they contribute towards a larger impact. Along with her two young daughters, Yasodhara distributed the papers to participants of GotaGoGama with crayons, asking them to colour within the printed lines of each individual paper keeping them in the dark about what the completed illustration looked like until the papers were all put together.
“We had two grandmothers who just sat and coloured and we had middle-aged men and professionals and young people, university students, children – it was beautiful. We had representation from different ethnic groups and religious groups- we had so many people coming together and it was just amazing to see,” she says.
The completed piece was close to 10 feet in length and brimming with different styles from the childlike scribblings of their youngest participant, a two-year-old, to intricate patterns and designs created by a visiting artist from Kandy who had joined them.
“Even as an artist I have to say, it was a hundred times better than the original painting from Easter because all these different people had put their effort in and everybody’s voice was heard,” said Yasodhara. Their creation ‘survived’ for four days despite rain and occasional trampling by passersby during the night. Already a frequent visitor at GotaGoGama, Yasodhara would arrive every morning and repair any tears in the piece with tape.
As to what remains of the piece at present she laughs that “nobody knows what happened to it – it’s missing! I don’t know if it’s in somebody’s house or if it’s in the bin or if it’s been politically kidnapped but it is missing.’’ She adds, “I would love to know what happened to it but I also really liked the impermanence of it because the message was loud and clear – saving those pieces of paper was not going to make the message any clearer so it had to go somewhere.”
Drawing and painting from the age of four, Yasodhara went on to exploring other mediums such as portraiture, stained glass artwork, wood and fabric designs. Her decision to focus on her art coincided with her decision to move to Sri Lanka in 2016 from the UK.
Inspired by nature in particular, Yasodhara has held solo exhibitions in London and Galle and exhibited at the Colomboscope art festival. Her first project as a full-time artist was a children’s book titled ‘Tikiri Baba’ published by M.D. Gunasena.
Her most notable work is Sri Lanka’s largest solo hand painted mural located in Rajagiriya, done in 2018. Rich with lush plant life, it was completed in three months and measures 5 x 20m/17 x 64 ft.
Artist on a mission: Yasodhara Pathanjali. Pic by Akila Jayawardana
Yasodhara is developing an idea for another project – the second phase of the initial 10-foot illustration at GotaGoGama. Describing it as a communal project where people can join either physically or virtually, she says its purpose is to encourage participants to make a lifelong promise through a single action for a better Sri Lanka. “It could even be ‘I will never throw litter on the ground again’ – simple. If we can all make one promise, in five years the country is going to be a different place.”
Contemplating how it can be executed effectively, she will explore it further following the birth of her third child due soon.
Yasodhara received considerable attention after an image of her attending protests at GotaGoGama as an expectant mother and with the use of crutches went viral on social media. Admitting that she was initially uncomfortable with the added attention, she says she quickly grew to appreciate the reaction it received as it helped spur others to join in the peaceful protests. She shows no signs of slowing down as she balances her pregnancy with helping to supply GotaGoGama with necessary items such as water pipes, parts for the expansion of the solar power system in place, medicines, clothes and tents.
“The way people have come together to build the library, the solar power, running the 24/7 kitchen, the medical facilities – what’s very inspirational for me is that we don’t have to wait for the government to do these things for us. We can do it ourselves and we are showing that there. I feel incredibly privileged to have been a part of it and for my kids to have experienced it.”
She plans on returning to GotaGoGama with her newborn saying, “Baby is going from hospital to GGG and then GGG to our house – youngest protester! Will be barely a few hours old!”
Visit Yasodhara’s Instagram @yasodhara_pathanjali
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