Jogi Rupaya Item Number: 3392/34 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

A watercolour painting which depicts a spiritual being holding a hooked rod. The being has red skin, and is wearing wide pants that end just above the knee. The pants are decorated with multicoloured stripes and curl outward at the hips. An inverted, blue triangular piece of fabric hangs down from the waist. The being's hair is long and black, and curls outward in two thick sections. It has half-moon shaped eyes, a thin moustache, and stretched earlobes that extend to its chin. The being is holding a long, thin rod with a hooked end in both of its hands. The painting's background is blue. Blue and white oblong rings radiate outward from the figure's head and shoulders.

History Of Use

The imagery is possibly associated with ritual healing in Sri Lanka. The set of watercolours (3392/3-34) is said to depict spirits that inhabit planets, or deviyo (minor gods) or rakshas and yakkas (evil or mischievous beings). These beings are often depicted in masked dances and exorcisms.

Narrative

The collector, Dr. Michael Egan, wrote his doctoral thesis on healing rituals in Sri Lanka. His fieldwork was carried out in the south of Sri Lanka, in the village of Kadurupokuna (Hambantota District), between Sept. 1965 and Nov. 1966.

Item History

What

Name
Jogi Rupaya
Identification Number
3392/34
Type of Item
painting
Overall
height 37.4 cm, width 27.4 cm

Who

Culture
Sinhalese
Previous Owner
Michael John Egan and Carol Egan
Received from
Carol Egan (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Sri Lanka

When

Creation Date
between 1960 and 1966
Collection Date
between 1965 and 1966
Ownership Date
before 1977 and before October 2, 2019
Acquisition Date
on October 2, 2019

Other

Item Classes
paintings; works on paper
Condition
good
Accession Number
3392/0034