Curated by Jaya Mani and Featuring works by textile artist Gunjan Jain and muralist Suresh Muthukulam, this exhibition is inspired by the shared cultural heritage of Kerala, Odisha And South East Asia
It was a matter of time that the shared cultural and trade ties between South India and South East Asia was interpreted in art, which is where curator Jaya Mani comes in with the upcoming exhibition Voyages: The Ancient Maritime Silk Route. Presented by DRAVIDAM, this exhibition features the textile works of Gunjan Jain and muralist Suresh Muthukulam. ‘Voyages: The Ancient Maritime Silk Route’, is an art show drawing inspiration from the ancient maritime trade and cultural exchange between the coastal regions of South India and the Southeast Asian countries, beginning as early as the 3rd century CE and till the 15th century CE,” notes Jaya Mani. “Unlike the other kingdoms which existed on the Indian subcontinent, the Pallava empire which ruled the Southeastern coast of the Indian peninsula did not impose cultural restrictions on people who wished to cross the seas. The Chola Empire had a significant influence on the culture of Southeast Asia through trade and the spread of Indian religion and art. Southern Indian traders, adventurers, teachers and priests continued to be the dominating influences in Southeast Asia until about 1500 CE.”
Mani details the similarities between the cultures of Kerala, Odisha and South East Asia, and how ancient trade fostered such influence which the regions have had on each other. She then speaks on how her personal work of promoting the mural art of Kerala led to her “connecting the dots” between Kerala and Odisha. With over 40 years of working with mural artists like Suresh Muthukulam and meeting Gunjan Jain due to a personal appreciation for textiles through her love of saris, the three naturally ended up working together for this exhibition.
Gunjan Jain is a textile artist and designer, who founded Vriksh designs in Odisha in 2008. She immersed herself into the local weaving traditions which she reinterprets in contemporary designs. Her efforts led her to being awarded as Designer of The Year in the Vogue India Fashion Fund under the Saree category. Suresh Muthukulam, on the other hand, studied the traditional mural technique of Kerala. He makes art inspired by both mythology and the every-day, as he frequently portrays the Gods and deities in everyday situations. His interpretation of The Last Supper was Kerala’s official gift to The Vatican. Jaya Mani founded DRAVIDAM to promote the art of South India, and for over a year the three collaborated on this project. Suresh was keen on experimenting with media and learnt the art of weaving and textiles. Conversely, the weavers at Vriksh Studios had to understand “a mural artist’s thoughts.”
“This voyage of learning and discovery is now ashore. The winds pushing the sails of this collaborative show came in the avataar of friends especially from my home-state of Kerala and Odisha – a State with which I feel a deep connect. Over the centuries and to the present-day, Kerala and Odisha have enjoyed close ties and this was reason enough for a show linking the two regions which are culturally connected and also cherished an ancient maritime history.”
~Jaya Mani
Exhibition Details-
- Venue: Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
- Preview: Saturday, 6th September 2025, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
- On view: 7th – 9th September 2025
- 11:30 am – 7:30 pm
- (closes at 5:30 pm on 9th September)
Images Courtesy: DRAVIDAM and Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre
Citizen of The World. A musician, artist and writer. Social media manager at Abir Pothi
