Mural Painting of Kerala
Kerala stands next to Rajasthan in having the largest collection of murals based on puranic
(ancient Indian mythology) themes. The murals of Kerala bear the stamp of uniqueness in aesthetic composition and techniques.
Most of these were painted between 15th and 19th centuries, many even date backs to 8th century AD. The temples and palaces of Kerala are invariable sagas of Hindu gods and visual poems of their heroic deeds
It took a lot of dedication and devotion to create these visual wonders.Thepigments ,gum,brushes etc are all taken from plants or natural minerals.
Frequently used pigments in Kerala are saffron-red, saffron-yellow, green, red, white,
blue, black, yellow and golden yellow.
The oldest murals of Kerala are found in the Thirunandikkara Cave temple now a
part of Kanyakumari district of the neighbouring state of Tamilnadu.
The largest mural panel in Kerala - the Gajendra Moksha - is at Krishnapuram Palace
near Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district.
Extensive murals depicting scenes from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Bhagavatha are preserved at the Mattancherry Palace, Ernakulam district. The murals of the Shiva temple in Ettumanoor provide insight into the earliest forms of Dravidian mural art.
One can say that the tradition of painting on walls began in Kerala with the pre-historic rock paintings found in the Anjanad Valley of Idukki district. Archeologists presume that these paintings belong to different periods from upper Paleolithic period to Early historic period. Rock engravings dating to the Mesolithic period have also been discovered in two regions of Kerala, at Edakkal in Wayanad and at Perimkadavila in Thiruvananthapuram district.
A close study of the mural art of Kerala will prove to be valuable in understanding the State’s art and cultural tradition. It was a tradition that was nor averse to incorporate the best of the diverse cultural and aesthetic influences that it was open to. But alongside it was also able to retain and preserve its own individuality
Kerala stands next to Rajasthan in having the largest collection of murals based on puranic
(ancient Indian mythology) themes. The murals of Kerala bear the stamp of uniqueness in aesthetic composition and techniques.
Most of these were painted between 15th and 19th centuries, many even date backs to 8th century AD. The temples and palaces of Kerala are invariable sagas of Hindu gods and visual poems of their heroic deeds
It took a lot of dedication and devotion to create these visual wonders.Thepigments ,gum,brushes etc are all taken from plants or natural minerals.
Frequently used pigments in Kerala are saffron-red, saffron-yellow, green, red, white,
blue, black, yellow and golden yellow.
The oldest murals of Kerala are found in the Thirunandikkara Cave temple now a
part of Kanyakumari district of the neighbouring state of Tamilnadu.
The largest mural panel in Kerala - the Gajendra Moksha - is at Krishnapuram Palace
near Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district.
Extensive murals depicting scenes from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Bhagavatha are preserved at the Mattancherry Palace, Ernakulam district. The murals of the Shiva temple in Ettumanoor provide insight into the earliest forms of Dravidian mural art.
One can say that the tradition of painting on walls began in Kerala with the pre-historic rock paintings found in the Anjanad Valley of Idukki district. Archeologists presume that these paintings belong to different periods from upper Paleolithic period to Early historic period. Rock engravings dating to the Mesolithic period have also been discovered in two regions of Kerala, at Edakkal in Wayanad and at Perimkadavila in Thiruvananthapuram district.
A close study of the mural art of Kerala will prove to be valuable in understanding the State’s art and cultural tradition. It was a tradition that was nor averse to incorporate the best of the diverse cultural and aesthetic influences that it was open to. But alongside it was also able to retain and preserve its own individuality
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