Growing up in the Vanni region during the early stages of the war in Kilinochchi, Ponnaiyah Peter was surrounded by the natural beauty of the land, but also by fear, displacement, and destruction. As a child, he experienced the chaos of war and these experiences deeply influenced his artistic journey. In contrast to joyful events, the war brought dark and complex experiences.
Clouds do not have a fixed position or place. The wind never allows them to stay still in one location, and their journey never ceases. This fleeting, changing quality resonated deeply with Peter and became a recurring symbol in his art. Dark clouds represent emotional responses linked to the deep losses he experienced during the war, which is why these formations are central to his work.
Swarming mayflies emerge from the ground during the rainy season and gather around a
source of light. Unaware that their lives last only for a single day, they move joyfully around the light. Eventually, they lose their wings and move towards the end of their short life. This cycle is a powerful metaphor for Peter. In the midst of war, people lost their identities and lands and were forced into an uncertain future. Through the symbolic form of the insect’s wing, he attempts to make a comparison about these experiences and his own memories. His work seeks to evoke reflection upon memory, loss, displacement, and impermanence.
