Kerala - Kochi   

Preserving art

Special Correspondent

KOCHI: CGH Earth received artefacts resorted by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) from its collection at the Kalari Kovilakom at Kollengode in Palakkad. Kerala state convener of INTACH and former mayor of Kochi K.J. Sohan handed over the restored artefacts to George Dominic, executive director of CGH Earth, in the presence of Nambi Raj, superintending archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, Thrissur.

"We wanted to save a precious resource," said Mr. Jose Dominic, managing director of CGH Earth. "We understand and believe that tourism affects people in many ways, and have undertaken various projects that call for local participation. After all, a hotel alone is not the reason for someone to come to a destination." INTACH was roped in to assess the art at Kalari Kovilakom, 19th century palace of the Venganad kings of erstwhile Malabar, two years ago. Out of the 300 works surveyed, the trust picked 12, including paintings, photographs and a lithograph - most of them at least 80 years old - for restoration. "The challenge for the INTACH team was to undo the damages caused by the moist Kerala atmosphere. The varnish applied on the painting had blanched and changed the nature of the painting," said Aravind Kumar Sharma, who led the restoration team. "This had to be removed inch by inch before a new coat was applied.

Sometimes, the canvas or old photographs was just stuck on to the plywood. The plywood was removed and the picture set on a new mount treated with fungicide. It was a time-consuming, expensive process, but it was rewarding to see art look perfect again."

It was by a stroke of luck that the lithograph was identified as a signed Ravi Varma painting, titled Radha. Printed at the Raja Ravi Varma press and dating back to 1895, the lithograph was torn at places and had a part missing. It has now been joined together and touched up.

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