The Museum of Art and Kerala History at Edappally is in the news for more than one reason.
It is simultaneously hosting an exhibition of paintings and photographs, apart from a book fair. Being held as part of the Ernakulam DTPC’s Lavanyam celebrations to coincide with Onam, these will be on till September 5.
The works of about 40 painters and sculptors are on show at the premises, some of them displayed in quite an offbeat manner.
At the entrance is a plain-white cloth, on to which visitors have pinned their works of art.
“We were keen to display paintings by well-known artists and young, lesser-known ones, under a single roof,” said Atmaja, painter and curator of the show.
“They include works by art teachers and students. Each one of them leads a unique, artistic life,” she said.
One among them is in black and white, displayed across two walls at a right angle, with the word ‘Pathos’ painted prominently.
Some of the works beckon guests to take a closer view.
Among the art pieces is broken pottery arrayed tastefully.
Then there is a work that appeals to one and all – a bamboo basket with a light within, placed over a few small red balloons in a dark room.
“Children found this simple work by Abdul Haque very interesting, their imagination running riot,” Ms. Atmaja said.
She spoke of how artist Valsan Koormakolleri played a key role in arranging the works of art at the museum. Photographs taken from across the country by six photographers too are on show.
Books containing photographs on art forms, drama, media, historical moments, are on sale at the venue. Among the books is ‘The Gun – The Story of the AK 47’ by Pulitzer-prize winner C. J. Chivers.
Titles on subjects like arts, photography, media studies, film and gender studies by a spectrum of publishers like Phaidon, Yale University Press, Chicago University Press, Penguin, Thames and Hudson and Focal Press are on display.
There are also books containing rare images of The Beatles and Rolling Stones. “Customised discounts are available for these,” said Dibin Augustine of Yellow House, a virtual book store.
