Most designers presently experiment with digital media and technology with the mobile phone as their trending technological partner.
Today ‘Saturday Spark’ speaks to an artiste who has made a multidisciplinary contribution to the arts in Sri Lanka. He is songwriter, graphic designer, creative director and photographer - Danushka Kumaratunga, who aims to unfold the hitherto unexplored beauty of Sri Lanka through the clicks of his mobile phone.
Danushka recently debuted his first e-book - Essence (hopefully with more to follow) where he has captured the rustic beauty of Udagaladebokka with the photographic skills mastered now
on his mobile phone as well. He thinks of his book as a platform for sharing his knowledge in photography “with everyone out there” and he believes that “A picture says more than a thousand words.”
Tell our readers of the areas you’ve contributed to as an artiste?
As a songwriter, I’ve written about 12 songs for popular and new artistes as well. They include the songs Manusatha sung by Chitral Somapala, Waradak Nokiyama sung by Dayan Vitharana, Mal Thuhinaye sung by Roony and Hithagawa sung by Fathima Ramzina. I’ve also worked as a video director, graphic designer and freelance photographer for the national newspapers - Mawbima and Aruna.
Having created a name for yourself as a lyricist, why did you want to write a book?
I’m not a professional lyricist or a writer. From the time I got my mobile phone, I was very enthusiastic to explore ‘Mobile Photography’ and did a lot of experimenting on the subject. While the lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic were on, I thought I’ll write a book that highlights the art of shots clicked by the mobile phone. I thought this would be a better platform for sharing my knowledge in photography with everyone out there.
Let’s talk about your e-book. What is it about?
‘Essence’ is the name of the book. It tells the story of the experiences and behaviours of people who live with nature, quite unseen to us. Also, it tells the story of the freedom and socio-cultural characteristics that are unique to the village – Udagaladebokka. I used the mobile phone to capture all visuals. And also editing of the pictures was done with the same mobile phone.
‘Essence’ is a creation that has come out with a western format. All together, it can be defined as a creation that can give visual inspiration to the reader as well as create a yearning in his mind to visit the village Udagaladebokka. After all, does not a picture say more than a thousand words?
Why did you choose a mobile phone for photography?
Because definitely, mobile phone photography will be the trend of the future world.
Since I’m fond of running with new technology, I was led by the desire to use mobile photography. I also chose the mobile phone because of its ease of capturing human emotions and sensations in photographs and ease of use on a very, very difficult journey.
I have a passion for mobile photography. So it was an experiment which had the desired outcomes.
You said that “‘Essence’ is a creation that can provide visual inspiration”. Didn’t you think of making a film while you took those pictures?
‘Essence’ was an experiment of basic visual design. I do hope to make live visual creations in the future.
What is the target group for your book?
The book can be useful to researchers, students, journalists, photojournalists and anyone interested in the arts.
You are a successful graphic designer too, aren’t you?
Yes. I was the first runner-up in the recently concluded competition -‘Design and Win with Viber’. As a designer, it gave me great pleasure to be recognised and I am motivated to give of my best. Today the world is besotted with technology.
With the experience gained as a graphic designer, I have had the opportunity to work with various companies in the field of branding. That experience helped me in designing ‘Essence’.
How can one get a copy of ‘Essence’?
This book was not meant to be a traditional printed book when it was created. It was meant to be easily accessible to anyone who is anywhere in the world, as it is not a printed edition.
Who contributed to this creation?
Messrs U.G. Anura, U.G.Lokubanda, U.G.Sunil and all the villagers who live in the middle of the Knuckles mountain range primarily contributed to the contents of ‘Essence’. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Anuradha Jayaweera, Dr. Udari Samaranayake and everyone who helped with the editing of the text and all those who spurred me on to successfully launch ‘Essence’.
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Quench Your Wanderlust
Travelling? It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller - Ibn Batutta
True. Being inquisitive by nature, we humans tend to explore the untouched spaces and love to experience the refreshing vibe once we do! Satisfying our wanderlust, this Pearl of the Indian Ocean is gifted with such treasures to explore. Sri Lanka, being a small island with a vast range of climatic and geographical diversity, holds wonderful creations of nature and unique locations with preserved cultures, still unexplored and unexposed.
Udagaladebokka, an untrodden land by many, yet holding nature’s tranquility preserved, with its unique culture, is a village located in the heart of the woods surrounded by the Knuckles mountain range which runs bordering Ududumbara, Kandy District and Hettipola, Matale District.
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