Ayisha Parakkattil

MALABAR; Tale of the Southside

Malabar: Tale of the Southside is a love letter to Kerala. The land that raised, rooted, and continues to shape every part of my being. This artwork pays homage to the enduring practices passed down through generations. ‘Malabar’ is an offering, a way of sharing Kerala’s beauty, culture, and soul with those who may not know of it.

The cloth is a handwoven Kasavu saree, created by local artisans from Kerala, made from organic cotton. This work becomes a deliberate act of honoring slow, sustainable craft. Upon this canvas, I have layered eco-prints using native plant materials that come from the landscapes she walked through as a child, also echoing the deep-rooted botanical wisdom of Kerala. I then hand-painted scenes with natural fabric paints she developed from plant materials such as turmeric, madder, cutch, brazilwood, and sustainable colours born from experimentation and care.

Each element, the screen-printed motifs, the embroidery stitched from discarded yarn, the quiet textures, speaks of Kerala’s layered identity: vibrant, grounded, and intimately tied to nature.

At the core of this work is my belief that colour should not cost the Earth, that beauty can be created without harm. Through every leaf, every shade, and every thread, I envision a future where making exists in quiet harmony with nature, not in conflict with it.

This saree is not only a map of where she comes from, but also a window for others to see Kerala. It is not just clothing. It is language. It is skin. It is history, worn and carried forward.