Chapter 4: Local examples of cubism- relevant irony
[1]Since the time of colonial rule Sri Lankan builders and architects have shown great favor to development concepts under the geometric alignment. While there has been structures that truly revolutionized the perception of how a structure should be created it has also gave Sri Lanka an Architectural era that became quite repetitive along the years. The few individual designers and architects who stepped beyond this norm deserve commendation. This also brings into light the revolutionary attitude that should be instilled into every freshman that hopes to improve the countries creative mindset. It is important to understand that the designer is not proclaiming that Sri Lankan Architecture doesn’t have its beauty and value but merely that it’s been around for years and designers and architects alike have become complacent in their execution and by this a truly contemporary piece becomes a rare find in this nation.
[2]Many Authority figures in the Sri Lankan Creative Community make a proud claim of having been heavily influenced by the “Bauhaus School” and this particular school of design holds many properties in common with cubism; most prominent among them is their love and beautiful manipulation of geometric forms and planes. They have derived influences from the likes of Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright. [3]The former being a Swiss-French nationalist was a very influential architect in the 20th century. He is given a significant place in the chapters of Universal architecture due to his unique projects and theoretical thought process. He firmly believed that architecture is a perfect balance between simple shapes and utilitarian needs.
[4]It is evident that majority of the time when a structure is being represented by someone who is learned in the creative field the piece becomes more than a buildings, it becomes a space that evokes the best kind of emotion from the consumer giving truly innovative views and perspectives. It is because they were taught to love this cubist way of rendering spaces and they were instilled with a proper and complete understanding of the isms principles. By this it becomes easy to identify structures that were the product of creative individuals from the structures of mere constructors who never truly understood the beauty of cubist character; it is unfortunate that given the economical, social and political status of Sri Lanka most Structures come into being without the influence of a capable architect or designer.
[5]The works of Geoffrey Bawa and his products Chelvadurai Anjalendran, Anura Ratnavibhushana and Channa Daswatte have received global recognition for their perfect understanding of cubist and Bauhaus principles, having executed geometrically inspiring space. However the designer recognized that these great men were a league all on their own and shared a similar concept throughout a majority of their projects. From a personal point of view the work is almost undistinguishable as the work of an individual. [6]In the opinion of a majority of student designers this becomes their way of maintaining a harmony in Sri Lankan architecture and creating an era of their own, perhaps like that of Czech Cubism. [7]To a minority of Students, the designer among them, the era should come to a healthy end and a new format should be introduced in creating breathtaking views; to the heartiest of the designers peers, the comfort zone of designing within set lines and rules have become tiresome and they look forward to revolutionizing this beautiful yet repetitive era of structural design into an ism of total contemporary design where the individuality and style of each designer comes into play. It is no longer about the space itself but the conceptual thinking and personality of a designer; it will be this uniqueness that makes their contribution to the much needed revolution in Sri Lankan Spatial Design a significant one.
[8]To those who aspire to change and improve the current, the works of Young Architect Philip Weeraratne gives much hope. The Designer has a personal fascination for this his works and finds the cubist format executed with so much clarity in his spaces. He has dared to take the Bauhaus school into the next level and because of this [9]his pieces while being in complete harmony with the other significant structures of Sri Lanka provide him with an individuality as a creative person, magnifying his contribution to the Architecture of our nation. The designer would wish to make a bold statement that the future of Sri Lankan Spaces looks very promising due to the Solid Foundation Laid By Bawa and his pupils, which was given a radical makeover by the likes of Phillip Weeraratne and the revolutionary attitude demanding change that is instilled in the hearts of many student designers.
“What we have is beautiful; but it’s already in existence, a significant effort to push the limits, still valuing all that Sri Lanka has been, is what will take Sri Lankan Design to the Global Contemporary design forum.”
Author
Conclusion
In conclusion the designer would like to state that the ism of the cubist revolution has indeed created a historical impact that its founders wouldn’t even be able to fathom. The way in which Picasso and Braque men of a single vision were able to influence global design for the last century is solid proof that it only takes the effort of one man to produce a masterpiece and by that masterpiece for that simple man to become immortal. From the corners of Prague, to the paradise we Sri Lankans call home the universal design cosmos has played a humongous role in developing an architectural identity that Sri Lanka can call her own.
To the designer and her peers as a graduating design students this paper represented the still small voice that encouraged a revolutionary attitude; giving the encouragement to pursue visions and bring to reality dreams that would in time shake the very foundations of this country. To the Braques and Picassos of today and tomorrow it provided ample proof that to challenge the norm and classical, to brave opposition for having a contradictory mission, tough pungent for the moment will in the longer run result in the designer finding their true creative identity, achieve universal recognition and impact the centuries to come as part of the grand design cosmos
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