Kerala Mural Paintings date between 16th & 17th centruy AD. These pictorial representations of decorative art started showing magnificently on temple walls, Sreekovils, Gopurams and old Palaces. Paintings depicting Gods, Goddesses, Mythological Stories, Incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Siva, etc., were made using 5 natural colors (Panchavarna) Red, Yellow, Green, Black & White (the wall itself). These were taken from cut Brick Stone, Yellow Stone, Copper Sulphate, Neelamari leaves, Lamp Black and Neem glue as base for mixing. Most of the God forms have stylized body postures, facial expressions and gestures like wide open eyes, elongated lips, and nearly exaggerated eye brows, comparable with classic theater of Kerala. Apart from Hindu Temples, a number of Churches, have these Mural Paintings with Christian iconographic features.
These decorative art forms are now widely used as Interior Mural and Canvas Paintings, using the same 5 natural shades in Acrylic colors to adorn Offices, Resorts, Hotels, Nationalized Banks, Individual Houses, Pooja Rooms and Living Rooms etc.
Faculties
A.Hariharan and C.D.Dileep, are National Diploma holders from the Institute of Mural Painting, Guruvayur Devaswom, Kerala. They have conducted several group exhibitions in Ernakulam, Trichur in 2002, Surya Festival in 2003 & 2004 at National level and abroad. They have completed several Mural Paintings at different Temples, Corporate Offices, Hotels, Resorts, Pooja rooms and Living rooms of houses.
