Kochi Biennale approaches!

Things are hotting up on Valsan Koorma Kolleri's site; more laterite blocks were delivered and unloaded by a huge fleet of blue-shirted 'union' handlers.

Valsan Kolleri making work for the Kochi Biennale

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale opens here on 12th December.  I have been fortunate enough to be able to draw artist Valsan Koorma Kolleri at work (with a considerable team of masons) on his structure of laterite.

Fish!

Beneath the fish stall drawing is an earlier one of the Chinese fishing nets and fishing boats.

Cheralai poppadum maker

Every day of the year Usha spending hours making poppadums upon the Cheralai pavement near Palace Road.  Drawing the whole process of kneading the dough, rolling it into a long sausage, cutting into small pieces, pressing flat, rolling with metal pin, weighting the stack, spreading out on a sack to dry in the sun. . . . .is fascinating.  She does everything with supreme deftness and at speed, with a rhythm and a generous smile.

'Bloom' sewing workshop - Fort Kochi, Kerala

These women are working at a sewing unit set up by Sophie Debiève Mathew.  It gives them the opportunity to learn a trade, regain their self confidence and rediscover enjoyment of life.  It felt to be an enormously relaxed, purposeful and supportive environment.
www.bloominthenaturalway.com

Bone Comb Man and Cobbler

An amazing day spent drawing in Fort Kochi, near the Chinese Fishing Nets and Vypin Ferry in the company of kind, friendly people.  Kumar and Ramesh are here every day, sitting on the pavement, working skilfully with their hands and feet; to transform buffalo horns into combs and fixing broken shoes.

Hedge Laying

A merry band at work, on a beautiful day, near the Crook O'Lune.

. . . Went to mow a meadow

Wonderful two days at Bell Sykes Farm, Slaidburn, Forest of Bowland AONB where   

Steve Tomlin was tutoring mowing with Austrian scythes.

    

 

Black Sheep