The Story of Tree Lanka

Nestled in the Indian Ocean, the beautiful Island of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) is a special place of many contradictions. Two dimensions contribute to this specialness and define this land and its people: diversity and turbulence.

Diversity defines all aspects of life: Sri Lanka is home to devout followers of four religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity) and people inhabiting the Island span over sometimes fundamentally different cultures, languages and cuisines. Strategically placed, Sri Lanka has been exposed to influences from East and West, North and South for centuries, all having left their marks, profoundly. Nature and climate are among the planet’s most diverse: from the dry, flat lands of the North to the lush rainforests of the South, from the pristine beaches to the tea plantations in the mountainous centre of the Island, Sri Lanka is home to diverse maritime and land ecosystems, flora, wildlife and diverse – often extreme – weather and climate phenomena.

Mingled and interconnected with its diversity are Sri Lanka’s turbulences: politically and historically, religiously, and economically, meteorologically and ecologically, past and present. With a Colonial history spanning Portuguese, Dutch and British influences, time of independence was alas marked by a decade long civil war, unrest and political instability. A land of extreme natural wealth, many Sri Lankans struggle daily to make a living. Yet, the Sri Lankan story cannot be told without recognizing its most striking dimensions: the happiness, hope and resilience of its wonderful people.

This series examines these tenets and aims at telling the Sri Lankan story of diversity and turbulence, a story of tradition and modernity, wealth and struggle, tragedy and happiness, resilience and hope.

Individual titles are telling this story along a timeline, beginning with impressions of Colonial past from Portuguese prisons in the North (#1) to Queen Victoria Park in Colombo (#2). Tranquility, peace and turmoil are likewise depicted (#3 and #4) as are lushness and resilience as well as resurrection and defiance of adversity (#5). Religion defines everyday life, and the two prevailing religions (Buddhism and Hinduism) are examined (#6 and #7).

In its entirety, the series represent all corners of the Island (North, West, East, Central) as well as depictions of the diverse Sri Lankan seasons and climates, landscapes and ecosystems. Images of harsh, dry environments juxtaposed with representations of lushness and natural beauty not only represent the natural environment, but also the contradiction of extreme wealth and hard living conditions that both are prevailing in Sri Lanka.

Lastly, Life and Death (#8) not only showcases the natural beauty of Sri Lankan nature and wildlife in Wilpattu national park. It warns of course of the brutality of the war and the daily struggle of so many ordinary Sri Lankans.

Most importantly, however, #8 reminds us of the most important part of the Sri Lankan story: while nothing lasts forever, there is always the eternal triumph of life. Or in simpler words: in the end, there is always a happy end in Sri Lanka.

Individual Titles in the Series

#1  Enfermé, Fort Hammenheil, Karanaigar Island, 2023

#2  Le vieux sage, Colombo Victoria Park, 2022

#3  Hangin’ Out, Trincomalee, 2023

#4  Uprooted, Sakkotei Beach, 2023

#5  Resurrection, Easter Sunday, Hanthana, 2023

#6  Pray my deer, Thirukoneswaram Hindu Temple, Trincomalee

#7  Prabashvara, 2023 Mihintale, Buddhist holy site, 2023

#8  Life and Death, Wilpattu, 2023