Interactive workshop 'Calling the Spectral' at the KMB
Kochi / March 24, 2026
Kochi, Mar 24: A two-day performative and interactive workshop titled “Calling the Spectral” was conducted at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, held at Aspinwall House, Coir Godown – Panjeri Artists’ Union Site, as a collaborative initiative by Panjeri Artists’ Union and ABC Art Room.
The workshop was led by artist-facilitator Aravind Chedayan, with co-facilitation by Kunjumol and Ashokan.
The workshop brought together the traditional art forms of Mudiyattam and Kalamezhuthu, creating a unique space that merged ritual practices with contemporary performance. The programme introduced participants to these traditions through presentations, storytelling, and songs, offering insights into their cultural and performative significance.
As part of the process, participants collectively developed a new visual interpretation, which was translated into a “kalam” drawn on the floor. This evolving image formed the core of the workshop’s creative exploration.
The second day of the programme culminated in a performance titled “Erasing the ‘Kalam’: A Performance of Body Movements and Music.” The performance included the creation of a larger and more significant kalam, which was gradually erased through movement and collective participation, with participants actively engaging in the process.
The performance was presented by the workshop participants along with Raji V. B., Rajagopal, Nithin Shams, Rajaneesh, and Aravind Chedayan.
Through artistic practices, the programme examined how traditions emerging from marginalized communities could play a vital role in envisioning a more equitable and casteless society.
ENDS
