Admission is Free | Open 12–5pm
Object Name: Mask
Artist: Unknown
Cultural Group: Sinhala peoples
Place of Origin: Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Date/Era: Early 20th century
Dimensions: L: 43.00 cm, H: 25.00 cm
Medium/Materials: Wood, paint
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Anonymous Loan.
Accession Number: LX74.1a-c
Gara Raksha is distinguished by large ears in the form of a lotus, a grinning fanged mouth, and bulging eyes topped by three cobra heads. He plays a prominent role in certain exorcism (tovil) rites and also appears in popular drama (kolam), where he performs a demonic spirit dance.
Source: Gallery wall text, Fowler in Focus: Masks of Sri Lanka, 2009