The Art of Straw Painting
SOME DESIGNS ARE TRENDY, BUT THESE ARE LEGENDARY—CRAFTED TO LAST, SEASON AFTER SEASON.
About artisan
Sulaimen is a master artisan from Kollam, with over 50 years of experience in his craft. His exceptional skill and dedication have earned him numerous awards, and his contributions to the art form are immeasurable. Rice straw painting is a centuries-old art form from Kerala, crafted using a signature technique with a specific variety of paddy and organic materials. Each piece is meticulously created by cutting and pasting rice straw in varying natural shades, using eco-friendly ingredients like handmade paper and tree-sap glue. Achieving the right pigment—from golden to deep brown—requires skillful blending, with different colours of straw.
With only a couple of artisans remaining who can do this blending, this technique of rice straw painting stands on the brink of extinction, a heritage in need of preservation.
About Craft
Kollam is a city in the state of Kerala, on India's Malabar Coast. In Kollam, where only a few master artisans remain, a quiet transformation is taking place. Women artisans, many from rural backgrounds, are not only finding a livelihood in rice straw painting but also redefining its potential. Once limited to simple souvenirs representing Kerala, this craft is now evolving into both keepsakes and intricately detailed artworks.
