Preservation of Cultural Heritage Through Video Documentation: A Contemporary Paradigm for Preserving the Socio-Cultural Tradition of the Kandyan Dress

Abstract

The formation of Kandyan dress can be considered as a unique sculpting technique where fabric molds on the body defining its three-dimensional form. Anthropologically and historically this dress is most imperative as it is diverse, original and responded to a well- formed socio-economic structure. Kandy is the last kingdom of Sri Lanka heralds a history of long and preserved traditions which has been recognized as a UNESCO world cultural heritage. Yet, the Kandyan dress and its long-established dress related practices have not been studied or preserved in a pedagogical or hypothetical manner. Visual exploration and preservation of this traditional dress in video format is necessary for awareness building for future generations before these cultural traditions fade away along with its contexts. This study is based on an analysis of probability for preservation of Kandyan dress through video documentation. The study seeks to address the advantages, challenges, hands-on approaches and transcending methodology to illuminate video documentation method as a pragmatic way for preservation of cultural heritage. A video documentation of cultural heritage takes its author across ethnographic line and thus, it frequently creates unpredictable conditions and contradictions.