Stockholm will soon have a slice of Fort Kochi. A Swedish artist has captured the vibrant colors of the beach town on her canvas during her six-week stay in Kochi. Erika Dalan said she plans to organize an exhibition of her new paintings in Stockholm once she gets back home.
Dalan had reached Fort Kochi with special canvases she brought from Sweden. Her paintings offer a kaleidoscopic view of the rich heritage of the ancient trading post. She worked from the Kasi Art Gallery near the Parade Ground. She said that she would fly to Stockholm on Saturday.
Dalan said that Kochi had come a long way since her first visit 20 years ago. She is particularly impressed with Kochi Metro. She said that she would like Swedish authorities to visit Kochi and learn how the Metro works.
The artist said that places like Mattancherry and Fort Kochi were unique in the peaceful coexistence of people from different cultures and faiths. Whenever she took a break from painting, she was exploring the culinary heritage of Kerala. She said that she had learned how to make puttu and chapati. She has even bought a steamer to cook puttu for her family.
A masters degree holder from the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, Dalan also trained in the MS University in Vadodara in Gujarat in 1987-88. Her works had been exhibited in many leading galleries including the Modern Museum.
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