Visual analysis of ritualistic art form of Kerala: Sarpam Kalemezhuthu (snake floor writing/design)
Keywords:
Art, Form, Media, Iconography, Image, Sarpa kalam, Visual design, Ritual, WritingAbstract
Snake worship is a revered practice in the Hindu religion; it takes deep cultural and ritualistic roots in several places in Asia. Snake worship, as a practice, is reinforced with found sacred snake groves, statues made out of stone and, other ritualistic practices such as sarpam kalemezhuthu-pattu/thullal (snake floor writing, songs and dance). It is iconographic and predominantly found in the state of Kerala, India. Sarpam kalemezhuthu-pattu/thullal amalgamates forms of dance, music and, visual art into a single ritual. Sarpa kalam (snake floor writing/design) is the artistic segment of the ritual. This paper seeks to study the visual characteristics of sarpa kalam and attempt to analyze form and the meanings it may derive.
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