ALY SUNSHYNPHOTOGRAPHY

Pili Vesha

Behind the vibrant spectacle of Pili Vesha lies a night of painstaking preparation, as artists transform dancers into tigers through intricate body painting. I spent the night observing the artists at work and the quieter moments between each transformation. By morning, the painted figures came alive to the thunder of drums, beginning a journey of performances through neighbourhood homes and towards the temple. This series explores the artistry, patience and people behind the spectacle, where paint becomes movement and tradition comes alive.

Black-painted Pili Vesha performer in a furry black headpiece reaching toward the camera among other performers.
Close view of a black-painted Pili Vesha performer with tiger face paint and a furry black headpiece.
Black-painted Pili Vesha performer with blue tiger-inspired stripes raises both arms beneath a furry black headpiece.
Pili Vesha performer wearing a tiger mask above a painted tiger face on their torso.
Seated Pili Vesha performer in spotted body painting and a white furry headpiece, framed by other performers.
Performer with orange, white, and black tiger-inspired body painting viewed between white furry headpieces.
Seated Pili Vesha performer with orange-striped body painting and a white furry headpiece beside a drummer.
Black-painted Pili Vesha performer with green and white tiger face paint among striped performers.
Two black-painted Pili Vesha performers in furry black headpieces, one with spotted purple body painting.
Close view of a performer in a furry black headpiece with green, white, and pink tiger face paint.
Artist paints a blue animal face on the torso of a yellow-and-white body-painted performer.
Black-painted performer stretches between bamboo poles while other performers prepare in the room.
Several body-painted performers hold bamboo poles while posing in a preparation room.
Body-painted performers stand with bamboo poles in a room lined with paint supplies.
Artist paints the lower leg of a performer whose torso features a blue painted figure.
Two spotted body-painted performers hold paper cups on a concrete stairway.
Two face-painted, spotted performers look toward the camera from a concrete stairway while holding paper cups.
Three tiger-striped Pili Vesha performers pause with paper cups outside a building.
Two spotted and tiger-striped performers eat from paper plates in a doorway.
Two tiger-striped performers sit on a patterned stage beside rows of white furry headpieces.
Body-painted performers and artists gather beneath a roof amid chairs, paint cans, and headpieces.
Artist crouches among paint cans while spotted and striped performers wait beneath a roof.
Two artists apply face paint to black-painted and tiger-striped performers outdoors.
Artist applies detail to a performer’s tiger face paint as another spotted performer watches.
Close view of an artist painting black outlines on a performer’s yellow-and-white face design.
Tiger-striped performer stands with hands on hips, showing a large painted tiger face across the torso.
Tiger-striped performer with a painted tiger face on the torso smokes beside parked scooters.
Several tiger-striped performers adjust body paint and costumes on a flower-decorated stage.
Low-angle view of tiger-striped and spotted performers on a decorated stage beneath hanging floral garlands.
Spotted and tiger-striped performers stand beneath chandeliers and hanging floral garlands on a decorated stage.
Three face-painted performers peer over a weathered concrete balcony.
Four spotted body-painted performers lean over a concrete balcony.
White-headpiece Pili Vesha performer dances on a green carpet surrounded by performers and onlookers.
Overhead view of a spotted performer in a white furry headpiece dancing before a circle of performers.
Overhead view of a spotted performer in a white furry headpiece moving across a green carpet.
Overhead view of a spotted performer with a white furry headpiece dancing before a semicircle of performers.
Overhead view of performers in white furry headpieces encircling a spotted dancer on a green carpet.
Two spotted performers in white furry headpieces dance before a group on a green carpet.