Saumya Liyanage’s Lamp in a Windless Place: Phenomenology and Performance. An Interdisciplinary Inquiry into Embodiment, Presence, and Actor Training.” Book review of Lamp in a Windless Place: Phenomenology and Performance, by Saumya Liyanage (VAPA Univer
V. Temussi
Jurnalul Artelor Spectacolului June 15, 2026 DOI: 10.54989/jas.25.09 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key findings | Argues that Liyanage's book makes a significant contribution to international debates on embodiment, presence, and intercultural performance by proposing a body–mind paradigm grounded in continental philosophy and Asian somatic traditions, including Sri Lankan martial arts and Buddhist epistemologies. The review also raises questions about universality and epistemic translation in the work. |
Abstract
This article offers a critical and interdisciplinary review of Saumya Liyanage’s Lamp in a Windless Place: Phenomenology and Performance (2025), situating the work within global performance studies, phenomenology, and anthropological discourse. The book proposes a body–mind paradigm grounded in continental philosophy and Asian somatic traditions, particularly Sri Lankan martial arts and Buddhist epistemologies. This review evaluates Liyanage’s methodological synthesis of phenomenology, cognitive science, and practice-led research, highlighting its relevance for contemporary actor training and performance theory. It argues that the text contributes significantly to international debates on embodiment, presence, and intercultural performance while raising questions regarding universality and epistemic translation.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on philosophy of mind, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body Consciousness: A Philosophy of Mindfulness and Somaesthetics | 2008 | Review article | |
| Phenomenology, Structure, and Dynamic of Psychedelic States | 2016 | Review | |
| Classic Hallucinogens and Mystical Experiences: Phenomenology and Neural Correlates. | 2018 | Review | |
| The lived experience of psychosis: a bottom-up review co-written by experts by experience and academics. Individuals with lived experience of psychosis, family members, and carers | 2022 | Co-written bottom-up review | |
| From autopoiesis to neurophenomenology: Francisco Varela's exploration of the biophysics of being. | 2003 | Review |