Paintings on temple and palace walls
The mural paintings of Kerala depicting gods and goddesses, rituals and stories from Indian mythology usually adorn the walls and ceilings of temples. The murals harmoniously blend with the intricate wood carvings at the traditional Kerala temples. The oldest examples of these murals can be seen at the Thirunandikkarai Cave Temple which is now a part of Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari district.
The Making
The muralists adhered to Shilparatna, a Sanskrit guidebook on pigment preparation, brush techniques, plaster application, sketching methods, colour palettes and even postures and proportions of figures. The iconography finds its foundation in hyana slokas. These are a collection of verses defining nine rasas (emotions). They offer information on embellishments, weapons, vehicles, proportions, and colour schemes. The pigments, brushes and adhesive were made with natural minerals and plants.
The Legacy
Kerala’s mural art traditions can be traced back to the 8th century. The most notable examples emerged between the 15th and 19th centuries. Under noble patronage, such murals graced the walls of royal households and palaces too. They can still be found at the Mattancherry Palace in Kochi. The largest panel, known as Gajendra Moksha, is at the Krishnapuram Palace in Alappuzha district. Contemporary artists still follow the traditional principles, connecting the past and the present.
Memory Vault
Expanding its horizons beyond temple walls, the art form is now found on canvas, clay, fabric and paper. Muralist PK Sadanandan has added a unique twist, using canvas sourced from fishing boats in Kochi. His works can be seen in galleries and were also exhibited at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2016.
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