Tholpavakoothu performance
The Consulate General of Italy in Bengaluru, in collaboration with KAASH, presented IN PRAISE OF SHADOWS, an evening that explored the influence of Italian design philosophy and Indian craft traditions. The event featured a talk by Andrea Anastasio, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in New Delhi, alongside a live Tholpavakoothu performance, an ancient leather puppetry tradition from Kerala.
Andrea Anastasio’s talk delved into the shared aesthetics of shadow, light, and materiality in Italian and Indian artistic traditions, drawing from his own experiences as a designer and cultural thinker. The talk set the stage for a Tholpavakoothu performance by Rajiv Pulavar, a master artisan who continues the centuries-old puppetry storytelling tradition from Kerala. The performance brought scenes from the Ramayana to life, offering a sensory and historical context to the dialogue on design and craft.
