(L) Artist-curator Riyas Komu's next show attempts to explore the native face of Mattancherry with a unique collection of paintings and photographsMattancherry has been a muse for several great works but its true inhabitants were never really a subject of interest to artists. Well, not anymore. Artist-curator Riyas Komu is all set to correct this shortcoming.
His new show, which is all set to get underway for two months from August 12 at Uru Art Harbour here, is an attempt to explore the native face of Mattancherry with a unique collection of paintings and photographs, all detailing the untold stories of the lives of the true inheritors of the space.
Curated by Riyas Komu, the exhibition will feature the works of 13 artists, including Anitha Thampi, Anwar Ali, Jalaja P.S., K.R. Sunil, Latheesh Lakshmanan, Ramu Aravindan, Sosa Joseph, Upendranath T.R., Vipin Dhanurdharan and Zakkeer Hussain. The show will also promote the works of two art collectives based in Kochi, viz., Route Cochin and Urban Design Collective.
The selected works on display will explore the spatial, social, historical, and temporal shifts of the location by way of investigating the history of laborers and working class, internal migrations, traceable pasts, intangible cultures, stories, and memories.
Mattancherry, the exhibition, seeks to not only move beyond the established microcosms but also to suggest the multi-layered aesthetic, cultural, social, and even abstract sentiments expressive of different multi-cultural perspectives – of looking at and seeing Mattancherry, the place through its people.
A host of programs, including film screenings and cultural shows, will be organized as part of the exhibition, which will be open to the public until October 12.
Read more: Entertainment | Art & Culture | When actor Joy Mathew's verses became optic and audial
