Suran was born in Sri Lanka and lives in London. Rasa is his first solo exhibition and photography book. In his work he "explores the visual interpretation of 'dance grammars' in Asian classical dance". The following contains some background information pointers to the photographs presented in the Rasa book and exhibition.

Bharata Natyam
One of the oldest Indian dance forms, is traditionally performed by a female soloist. It originated in Hindu temples in South India in the 9th century AD by resident dancers known as Devadasis. It was considered immoral and forbidden for a period during the British rule and was revived in the late 1930's.

The Ramayana
Parts of which form the basis of this work, is a poem that tells the epic story of Rama, a prince, and his wife, Sita who are widely revered as the 'ideal' embodiments of man and woman in Hindu culture. This 3rd century BC poem is still danced in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia.

Abhinaya
The exposition of moods and ideas by gestures, facial expressions, and body movements, is the soul of Indian dance. The gesture 'language' comprising of a complex grammar and words was first recorded in the 2nd century AD text, Natya Sastra, and has changed little over time.

Rasa
Or 'aesthetic emotion' arises in the spectator through the moods and sentiments that are conveyed though Abhinaya. Examples of such conveyed moods include the peaceful, the furious, and the erotic.

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