Jinson Abrahams presents his latest show, Kollavarsham 1202: Munnē: Ippōzh: Ini, at the State Art Gallery in Thiruvananthapuram. The exhibition opened this week and runs through the end of the month, inviting visitors to explore a visual dialogue between cloth and chronology.
The display centres on a series of photographs lifted from Abrahams’ Kollavarsham 1202 calendar, complemented by a handful of recent portrait works. Each image captures garments that once signified identity, status or ritual within specific communities. By arranging the pictures along a chronological thread, the artist highlights how attire functioned as a cultural signpost in earlier eras.
Beyond aesthetics, the project probes the role of fashion as a marker for groups that have historically been pushed to the margins. Abrahams aims to resurrect the visual presence of those communities, allowing contemporary audiences to glimpse a past that official records often overlook. The photographs reveal textures, patterns and colour palettes that speak of regional trades, seasonal festivals and social hierarchies.
Visitors can view the exhibition free of charge from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Curatorial notes placed beside each work provide context about the fabrics, the people who wore them and the archival sources consulted. The show adds a fresh layer to Thiruvananthapuram’s cultural calendar, reinforcing the city’s reputation as a hub for interdisciplinary art that bridges history and modernity.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: The Hindu Entertainment