The Living Palette
A collection of paintings that depict the life in Kerala - that includes ways of living, food, floriculture, autorickshaws (motorised taxi similar to tuk-tuk) and maritime culture.
Curator
Prakash Palakkil
Artists
Athena Jinson
Noura Thaha
Seema Manoj
Artist
Seema Manoj
This piece depicts a young girl offering her evening prayers as the sun sets, a quiet, sacred moment rooted in the traditional rituals of Kerala. Though this custom is slowly fading from daily life, the painting serves as a preservation of vanishing heritage and the passing of time.
Artist
Athena Jinson
From the crisp golden edges of ghee dosa to the masala packed sambar and chutney, this plate has started most of my days. It holds the pure aroma of my grandmother’s cooking and the joy from my simple meal.
Artist
Athena Jinson
Gliding through the water lilies, this painting recreates the timeless rhythm of the local waterways. It stands as nostalgic memories where summer holidays were spent swimming with cousins.
Artist
Athena Jinson
Every ride in Kerala in an auto rickshaw is a different feeling of comfort and longing. It captivates a familiar scent of home from the unforgettable sights and rich smells of bustling street life.
Artist
Athena Jinson
This painting captures the warmth beneath the sky with a quiet moment drifting along the gentle current of the lake. It holds the carefree feeling of kerala’s cool waters on a summer afternoon.
Artist
Noura Thaha
Believed to be over a thousand years old, Thirunelli Temple in Wayanad sits quietly among the Brahmagiri hills, almost becoming part of the landscape itself. Its layered roofs and simple proportions capture the timeless character of traditional Kerala temple architecture.
Artist
Noura Thaha
Kerala Houseboat, once called a 'kettuvallam' carrying rice and goods between villages, the houseboat belongs naturally to Kerala’s waterways. Its slow journey through the backwaters tells a story of a life shaped by water.
Artist
Noura Thaha
Along the quieter edges of the Kerala backwaters, still waters meet mangroves and endless shades of green. Here, land and water gently blur into a landscape that feels both wild and deeply familiar.
Artist
Noura Thaha
The Chinese fishing nets of Kochi have lined the shore for generations, reminders of Kerala’s centuries-old connections with distant maritime cultures. Their slow rise and fall remains one of the most distinctive sights of old Kochi.
Artist
Noura Thaha
The Napier Museum in Thiruvananthapuram brings together Kerala, Indian and European architectural influences. Its intricate details and distinctive roofline reflect the many cultures that have crossed paths in Kerala over time.
Artist
Noura Thaha
A Kerala backyard, with banana leaves rising behind a simple garden wall, is an ordinary scene yet one that instantly feels like home. Lush, informal and slightly wild, it captures the Kerala of everyday life.