A modern art gallery in the city is trying out a novel experiment to market paintings by Keralite artists.
As the cruise liner ‘Ovation of the Seas’ docks at the port here on Wednesday morning, the 4,000-plus tourists on board will get to have a unique treat of splendid art executed by award-winning artists from various parts of Kerala.
The AAD Gallery at Kadavanthra has collected some 250 paintings — oil, acrylic and water colour — of various dimensions from 140 artists and put them all up on display at an enclave just outside the vessel’s berth on the Cochin Port premises.
“They are all original works done by State award winning painters collected in an exercise that lasted about two months. While some artists offered their existing paintings, some made fresh works for the show,” says Jomon Malayil, owner of the gallery.
Maybe, it’s a first of its kind venture, he adds, maintaining that the works are priced between Rs 10,000 and Rs 2 lakh.
“Everything has been arranged and the visitors will be conducted into the 1,000 sqft enclave for the art exhibition.
“We expect that it will be a refreshing experience for the visitors as well, as they may not experience this sort of an in-situ cultural show anywhere else. Plus, it’s going to give a big boost to our evolving artists.”
Ovation of the Seas, on a 15-day voyage, is arriving for a two-day sojourn in Kochi during which period the tourists are slated to have a plethora of activities in and around the city.
The ship is arriving from Muscat and will leave for Malaysia.
