Page 97 - AC-2-2

Arts & Communication

ARTICLE
Decoding decorative motifs: Visual perception

and spatial understanding in Buddhist image
houses

Ganga Rajinee Dissanayaka*

Samkathana Research Center and Asarchive, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Western
Province, Dalugama, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the impact of designs, coupled with the main pictorial
program, on the perceptions of individuals within the organizational and spatial
framework of a Buddhist image house. The study seeks to understand the influence of
these designs on both the overarching artistic theme and the individuals experiencing
them while considering the diverse roles inherent in this setting. Consequently, it
elaborates on three different roles within this context of the research inquiry regarding
the application of different styles alongside the main story theme in a Buddhist
image house. In addressing the research question concerning the rationale behind
incorporating decorative motifs alongside the main thematic narrative in a Buddhist
image house, this study delineates three roles: supportive, objective, and subjective.
It explores how these decorative motifs in the main pictorial program shape the
perceptions of individuals and their subsequent effects. Emphasizing the multifaceted
*Corresponding author: roles assumed by decorative motifs, this research contributes insights into the diverse
Ganga Rajinee Dissanayaka
(gangaraj_2019@kln.ac.lk) functions served by these elements. The study posits that such variations not only
serve as guides to religious practices but also offer a means of expressing the elevated
Citation: Dissanayaka GR.
Decoding decorative motifs: creative qualities inherent in Asian art through the utilization of motifs.
Visual perception and spatial
understanding in Buddhist image
houses. Arts & Communication. Keywords: Buddhist image house; Decorative motifs; Supportive; Objective; Subjective
2024;2(2):2373.
doi: 10.36922/ac.2373
Received: December 5, 2023
Accepted: March 18, 2024 1. Introduction
Published Online: May 27, 2024 Perception serves as a mechanism for accumulating diverse mental elements and
transforming them into conceptual entities. The synergy between comprehension and
Copyright: © Author(s). This cognition is inherent in the process of perception. Consequently, the act of thinking
is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the involves the intricate processing of perceptual outputs.
Creative Commons Attribution-
Noncommercial License, permitting In the traditions of Buddhist temples, decorative motifs play a pivotal cognitive role.
all non-commercial use, distribution, They adeptly communicate spatial arrangements while maintaining overarching artistic
and reproduction in any medium, themes and narrative coherence. Through the use of colors, artistic ingenuity, and
provided the original work is
th
properly cited. adherence to 18 -century artistic conventions, these motifs are repositories of cognitive
content, whether thematically affiliated or not. Therefore, scholarly exploration of
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with decorative motifs is imperative within the realm of art history.
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional This study focuses its scholarly inquiry on the discernment of decorative motifs within
affiliations. the Buddhist image house, with a particular emphasis on elucidating their roles. Delving

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2024) 1 doi: 10.36922/ac.2373