In celebration of the Lunuganga gardens 75th anniversary, Tree Talks podcast explores the lives of flora and ecosystems within the gardens. Bought on the eve of independence in 1948, Lunuganga is Geoffrey Bawa’s first and longest running architectural endeavour, join us as we unravel the intricacies of this living archive.
This episode is an exploration of pigment extractions and the human connection to trees through craft with fashion designer and researcher Mr. Sanjeewa Wijesundara. Sanjeewa expounds upon the nuances and diversity of pigments and the processes used throughout history for extraction. With the help of select trees he reflects on the intimacy between colourist and plants nourished through technical experimentation and respectful curiosity.
Sanjeewa Wijesundara is a passionate designer and researcher who uses knowledge and creativity for innovative solutions in the fashion and textiles industry. He works as an industrial designer and is conducting his postgraduate research at the University of Moratuwa. His research focuses on current and historical influence of power, culture and heritage and their links to fashion and customer perceptions.
Legend for Map
- Kumbuk Tree
- Cashew Tree
- Jackfruit Tree
- Mahogany Tree
- Tamarind Tree
- Hibiscus Tree
Compendium of Species Mentioned in this Episode
Flora
Kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna)
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale)
Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
Mahogany
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
Hibiscus
Additional References
Bamboo
Areca nuts/Betel
Sepalika flowers
Aralu
Ironwood
Meliaceae
Samara: Atlas of Mineral Resources of the ESCAP Region by United Nations, 1989
Nil/Robin Blue
Mordant
Tannin
hâ-hâ
Mordant bonds (Elsevier)
Alum
Anthocyanin
The Buddhist Robe: The path pointing to natural dyes and possible establishment of a natural dyeing industry in the apparel sector of Sri Lanka with special reference on the Buddhist robe by Wijayapala, Ranathunga and Karunaratne, 2019
Temple Paintings:
Plaster and Colour Technology of Ancient Sri Lankan Murals by Menaka Nishanthi, 2021
Mahogany in Batik:
Development of Natural Dyes for the Batik Textile Industry in Sri Lanka by Chandrasri, Amarasinghe and Hewavitharana, 2024
Medicinal Properties of Tamarind:
Medicinal Properties of Tamarind: Anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of Tamarindus indica Linn. (Fabaceae): a narrative review by Komakech, Kim, Matsabisa and Kanga, 2019
Hibiscus and Hair Dyeing:
Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) by National Library Board, Singapore, 2020
Credits
Produced by: Geoffrey Bawa Trust
Supervising Producer: Aneesha Mustachi
Writer and Coordinator: Dhaneesha Tharakie
Audio Engineer: Shamin de Silva