Kerala   

Murals come to the common man’s home

Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup

Art for all: Articles adorned with murals at an outlet in Kozhikode. —

As an art from, murals, which were once confined to temple walls and other holy places, have been liberated to reach out to a wide audience in recent times.

They often appear on the walls of houses, hotels and other commercial buildings now. One can find them even on pots, carry bags, lampshades and musical instruments.

Rana Divakaran, an art collector who conducts shows of murals painted on rare articles, says that murals on objects such as furniture and music instruments are well received by art lovers, especially in big cities.

Mr. Divakaran, who merchandise on murals and sculptures, also experiments with the help of mural artists.

They the traditional temple art form of Kerala on flower vase, beer glass, paperweights, earthen pots and vanity bags. “In a way it helps to popularise the art form,” says Mr. Divakaran.

The bamboo flute, painted with intricate murals of mythological characters is a big hit, attracting several buyers, says a salesperson from ‘Art-Asia,’ a recently opened outlet in Kozhikode, which has put on sale articles etched with murals.

“Some of the 17th century mural themes such as ‘Parvathee Chamayam’ are much in demand when they are painted of innovative objects,” she adds.

According to Divakaran, the artists who work for him have tried painting murals even on huge wooden boats, which he says will look fabulous if displayed at the lobby of a restaurant.

“Foreigners appreciate it so,” says Divakaran, a native of Kozhikode who has conducted mural shows in Delhi Mubai and other big cities.

Jabir Mushthari

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