Bamba Item Number: 3392/9 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
A watercolour painting which depicts a spiritual being with a serpentine lower body. The being has white skin that transitions into a black, snake-like body at the waist. Around the being's waist is a belt of pink flower petals with white tips. Adornments are wrapped around the being's chest and neck, and decorative bands encircle its biceps and wrists. The being has narrow eyes, a small mouth, and stretched earlobes which extend down to its chin. It is wearing a headpiece which comes to a point at both sides. There is a teardrop shaped decoration on top of the headpiece, and side panels extend across its shoulders. In one of the being's hands is a yellow, oblong object, and in the other is a yellow and orange rectangular object. Below the being is a large pink flower with a thick stem and yellow centre. The painting's background is blue, and a rectangular black border encircles the image. Blue and white oblong rings radiate from the being's head and shoulders.
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.
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.