'Stories spark it, Kerala shapes it': Tom Vattakuzhy at Kochi Muziris Biennale 2025

Kozhikode: Kochi-based artist Tom Vattakuzhy will be participating in Edam, an exhibition opening on December 13, 2025, alongside the Kochi Biennale. This edition of Edam aims to foster intergenerational dialogue and highlight diverse artistic voices from across Kerala, bringing together practices rooted in lived experience, literature, and memory.

Vattakuzhy, known for his luminous, introspective painting style, will showcase works that merge delicate realism with a quiet, contemplative sense of light and memory. Vattakuzhy's inclusion as part of Edam's 36-artist roster is an attempt by the Kochi Biennale Foundation to put a spotlight on artists whose roots in Kerala culture resonate with broader, contemporary sensibilities.

Speaking to Mathrubhumi, Vattakuzhy reflects on literature, lived experience, and intergenerational memory as he prepares for the Edam exhibition at the Kochi Biennale. Known for his quietly powerful story-paintings, Vattakuzhy’s works stand at the intersection of tradition, memory, and the evolving artistic identity of Kerala.