"Tholpavakoothu" is the ancient art-form of the shadow puppet theatre of Kerala. A compound of three Malayalam words, thol-leather, pava-doll, and kothu-play, this ritual performance is believed to have originated in the ninth century. Performances are held behind a stretched transparent cotton cloth screen with hanging oil lamps serving as the back light required to cast the shadows.Typically made from goat or buffalo skin, the puppets continue to be painted in vegetable dyes. Various hand-made punches create filigree type cutwork motifs on the leather. Intricate workmanship, numerous punches and a darker colour palette, make the Kerala puppets distinctly different from their counterparts from the neighbouring regions.
These abstract lit sculptures are a contemporary interpretation of Tholpavakoothu. Though re-contextualized, the traditional skills have been kept intact. The internal light source makes these leather puppets glow, reminiscing a traditional leather puppet performance.
