SkZin (Pronounced ‘skin’), is a new line of art inspired clothing that can best be defined as fashion intended for the free spirited and those who look for something beyond the mundane and unoriginal. SkZin is the brainchild of Dr. Milinda Salpitikorala, an artist who while also handling duties in the emergency room of a renowned hospital, also has an intense passion for art. A passion that has existed since childhood.
“It’s pretty tough being in the emergency room, and in between hours of work, I draw to relax,” Milinda explained. “Even during night shifts sometimes during my resting time I listen to my music and just sketch whatever I’m feeling and seeing in my head and it helps me to relax”. Milinda explained that the idea for a clothing line that carried his art was an idea that was a long time in the making.
“I’ve been drawing for a long time and trying to figure out the best way to get my work out there, and I finally got an idea to do it through t-shirts. It was only this year though that I finally got the time to start,” he explained.
He went on to talk about the name. “I chose the name SkZin because the whole idea is that it’s as comfortable as your skin,” he said, adding that he the silent ‘Z’ was for effect and it would make people think. He also explained that there are no compromises made on the quality of the material used, standing true to his statement about it feeling like your own skin.
“I worked on and finished the logo first and split the first range of art work into different categories like my drawings,” he explained adding that this was only the first few of hundreds of drawing collected over the years inspired by sci-fi, comics book art and Heavy Metal, which Milinda explains has always been the soundtrack to all of his work. The SkZin range for 2011 will be in black and white, which Milinda explained will not always be the case as he hopes to release creations in the future that will use colours but always sticking with his themes.
One of the categories for the 2011 range is titled ‘Cranial’. “The word cranial means ‘Skull’ and this category is all art inspired by skulls and skeletons and there’s one design for Cranial out so far,” Milinda explained. ‘Spawn’ is another category in the SkZin line, where Milinda delves into different expressions of demons and dragons, “sometimes maybe one’s own inner demons,” the doctor explained adding that the design that is currently out for this category is a mix between Giger’s Alien and a creature from his own imagination. “When you wear this t-shirt, the image is on your chest and the creature is still a baby and it’s spawning”.
“The ‘Lust’ category,” Milinda explained, “is about what you see, but it’s not what you see” elaborating this idea by explaining that if you look at the first design you will see a bird but if you look closer you will also see something else, also adding that the lust category will be an assortment of splatters and abstract designs. The ‘Sri’ category is a tribute to a rich cultural heritage.
“The design I have out for the ‘Sri’ category is the drawing that I started this all with, fusing Metal and my art together. A friend named this drawing ‘The Yakada Yaka’ of ‘The Metal Yaka’, he explained adding that the drawing is a unique design of a traditional Sri Lankan devil mask that incorporates elements of different masks such as the ‘Naga Yaka’, and the Gini Yaka in one mask. Finally there is the ‘Armour’ category, which is dedicated to medival weapons, Sri Lankan and Non Sri Lankan. There is currently one design out for this category with more designs to come. Milinda explained that these were just a few of many concepts in his head that he hoped to develop and release. “I plan to put more complex artwork using more colour but still sticking to a certain theme. And the work will always keep getting updated, with new designs being released each year”.
Skzin was launched with a bang at the Colombo Open Air Festival, which showcased some of Sri Lankas finest metal acts along with Absence of the Sacred and Rudra, two renowned and explosive extreme metal bands from Singapore, who, Milinda explained that when he got in touch with them and explained his idea, both bands agreed to come to Sri Lanka for the launch and both bands were extremely supportive. “The help that I got for Colombo Open Air was overwhelming, Milinda explained. “All my friends came together to help me out and they went all the way in helping me put everything together, adding that in fact “None of this could have happened without the immense help I received from my friends”.
(Pictures by Aki Peiris and Natalie Soysa)
|
E-mail
