Golden Yarn of Time: A unique fashion photo expo celebrating 1200 years of Malayalam calendar

Kochi: A unique exhibition blending fashion photography and cultural storytelling, which is going on in Kochi’s Durbar Hall Art Gallery, is capturing the imagination of art and history enthusiasts. Titled ‘Golden Yarn of Time: Celebrating 1200 Years of Kollavarsham’, the exhibition elegantly celebrates Kerala's rich agrarian heritage and the ancient Kollavarsham calendar.

The expo, conceptualised and photographed by Jinson Abraham, comes as a tribute to Kerala’s timeless traditions on the occasion of the Malayalam calendar turning to the next century, 1200. The event, inaugurated  by P Rajeeve, Minister for Industries, Law, and Coir on August 26 ends on Saturday. The photographs on display feature women, shown as straight out of pages from history, with backgrounds representing phases of agriculture cycle and traditional festivals.

A highlight of the exhibition is the hand-painted Kollavarsham calendar, created on medium-sized canvases measuring 4 feet by 3 feet, using acrylic paints. Over three weeks, skilled billboard artists Pramod, Narendran, and Manoj meticulously painted each element, capturing the intricate details of traditional Malayalam timekeeping with exceptional precision.. Each canvas showcases old Malayalam numerals and zodiac symbols, reflecting Kerala's enduring agricultural traditions and cycles. The desktop calendar version is a photographed reproduction of this hand-painted masterpiece, capturing the essence of the original without relying on digital design techniques, thereby preserving the authenticity and craftsmanship of the traditional art form.

Jinson, who has conceptualised the expo as a continuation of his lockdown project ‘Kollavarsham 1199’ said his aim was to revive Kerala's old traditions of timekeeping — the Kollavarsham calendar and the script Vattezhuthu. The visual concept, costume design, and styling have been handled by Habela Joseph, a graduate from the National Institute of Fashion and Design (NIFT). Production design and art direction have been done by Malavika Rajeev, and expert makeup artistry by Laxmi Vinod. The calendar's product packaging, thoughtfully designed by Nidhi Jacob, adds another layer to the exhibition's cohesive and immersive narrative.

The exhibition captures the resilience and grace of Kerala's coir workers, set amid rain-soaked coconut farms and coir production sites, styled in minimalist attire inspired by traditional wear. Surya S Vijayan, introduced as this year's fresh face, joins models from the previous year's calendar, including Ammu Nair and Athulya Raveendrakumar, who bring the visual narrative to life. Costume production is handled by Dinu Elizabeth Roy and Aham Designer Boutique.