“Deepam” (The light) -
Artist J.R.Palackal
Oil on canvas, Size - 25”x35”   

                     In every family in Kerala the virgin after evening ablutions prepares the “Bell metal - Lamp” with oil and lights up the wicker. The lamp is carried with devotion into all the rooms chanting “Deepam, Deepam”. It is finally placed on the varantha at the entrance. The members of the family sit around it on the floor to do scripture reading. It is an age-old custom that is very much the part of Kerala culture.

* The untranslatable Sanskrit terminology, which roughly means light.

“The Heritage” - Artist J.R.Palackal.
Oil no canvas, size - 30”x24”     

                         Right from the days of Aryans these bell-metal utensils were in vogue throughout Kerala mainly in feudal homesteads. Each one was made under the direct supervision of the “Karyasta” (Secretary) “by the “Moossari “(the bell-metal worker – now a caste). The designs differed from locality. These rare utensils are now either antiques or out of use due to the ‘modernisation’.

“The expression beyond ” -
Artist J.R.Palackal
Oil on canvas, Size – 18”x53”

“Kuttanad” _ Artist J.R.Palackal
Oil on canvas, Size – 30”x22”      

                         A watery hamlet in the Venice of east. The village lies below, the water level of surrounding lakes. It is the rice bowel of Kerala. The painting portrays the area calls Sree Moolam .

“Still Life “Artist J.R.Palackal
Oil on canvas, Size - 35”x25”    

“Anandaleela”_ Artist J.R.Palackal
Oil on canvas, Size 31”x23”        

                         The concept of Jeevatma (human soul) Paramatma (cosmic soul) reunion is worked out through the Radha (human soul) Krishna (cosmic soul) myth in the Indian “Bhakthi” tradition. When they reunite the result is Paramananda_(roughly, ‘Eternal Bliss’)

 “Landscape” _ Artist J.R.Palackal
Oil on canvas, Size – 21½”x15”

“The beauty in kasavu”_
Artist J.R.Palackal
Oil on canvas, Size – 18”x24”

                         The typical Kerala lady in the traditional ‘Neriyathu’- it is traditional hand woven long single lare white cloth. Its sides are specially made golden threads known as kasavu.

“The eloquent Recline” –
Artist J.R.Palackal
Oil on canvas, Size – 7’x4’

 “The calm before the storm”  –
Artist J.R.Palackal
Oil on canvas, Size – 30”x22” portrays the area calls Sree Moolam .

 

“Towards Tsunami” – Artist J.R.Palackal
Oil on canvas, Size – 30”x22”

The turbulent Sea, the wearisome wind and the heart–broken earth together share their miseries and decide, “to destroy the mankind for the sake of the Universe”.

 

Oh! Beloved Sun

Grandmother had told me stories about you. It filled me with wonder and curiosity. Now, when your young rays gently touch me, I feel bliss. Life dances in me. I long to see you. But I feel too shy to look at you. I yearn to be with you. Do others also feel the same when your rays embrace them?
My father, the mountain Sahya is in mediation. You are the infinite grace, which brightens the nine plants. I wish to possess you. Oh! Great Lord! May your blessings ever redeem me, the Malayalam. I dedicate to you all that I have. I welcome you.
Are you God? or, is God that omnipotence which sent you to us. Salutation to you.

The Bamboo - wood

Oh! Lord! I find your grace everywhere in my land. I feel your great presence in the sandal-gardens, bamboo-woods and gigantic trees. Oh, the infinite Lord! I worship you..

The lost spring

The physical cleanliness is natural to Malayalees. For having bath twice daily and for keeping surroundings clean a pond was an inseparable possession of every anscestral home. Separate bathing ghats were given in old days for men and women. But, under the influence of urbanisation, Malayalees find ancient customs as obscene. So, the bygone springs haunt us as ugly forms of lost fortunes. .