THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — In the quiet, sun-dappled corridors of the Alliance Française de Trivandrum in Vazhuthacaud, a profound dialogue is taking place between the written word and the painted stroke. Mumbai-based artist Mary Samual has unveiled her debut solo exhibition, titled ‘Unbound’, a collection of 25 paintings that serve as a visual odyssey through the realms of magical realism. Inspired by the evocative graphic novel Chithrakathayil Avante Bhoothangal (His Ghosts in a Picture-Story) by acclaimed artist-writer Jayakrishnan, the exhibition marks a significant milestone in Samual’s transition from a language professional in the IT sector to a formidable voice in the contemporary art scene.
The exhibition, which opened this week, is curated by the noted filmmaker K.P. Sreekrishnan. It presents a world where the boundaries between the mortal, the magical, and the environmental are not merely blurred but are entirely porous. Through a combination of acrylics and watercolors, Samual invites viewers into a space where nature is not a backdrop but a sentient participant in the human experience.
Main Facts: A Narrative Painted in Shades of the Metaphysical
At the heart of ‘Unbound’ lies a unique collaborative spirit, albeit one that evolved organically rather than through a pre-planned commission. The 25 works on display are an independent interpretation of Jayakrishnan’s graphic novel, a work known for its non-linear narrative and rich, surrealist imagery.
The exhibition is characterized by several recurring motifs that anchor the viewer in Samual’s dreamlike world:
- The Symbiosis of Nature: Roots, flowers, and turbulent waters dominate the canvases, symbolizing the grounding and chaotic forces of life.
- The Metaphysical Dialogue: Shadows and spectral figures suggest a constant conversation between the living and the "ghosts" of the past or the subconscious.
- Visual-Textual Interaction: Uniquely, the paintings are accompanied by excerpts from the original Malayalam text alongside their English translations. This ensures that the literary soul of the inspiration remains accessible to a diverse audience, bridging the gap between linguistic meaning and visual emotion.
Curator K.P. Sreekrishnan has structured the exhibition to mirror the fluid nature of the novel. Instead of a chronological or thematic progression, the works are placed to create an atmospheric immersion, allowing the "magical" elements to surprise the viewer at every turn.
Chronology: The Evolution of a Pandemic-Era Artist
The journey to ‘Unbound’ is a testament to the transformative power of the COVID-19 pandemic on the creative landscape. Mary Samual’s path to the Alliance Française was neither traditional nor direct.
2020–2023: The Formative Years
Like many professionals confined during the global lockdowns, Samual sought a creative outlet to navigate the isolation. In 2020, she began formal art classes, a pursuit she maintained for three years. This period was defined by technical experimentation and a search for a personal aesthetic. As a language professional at an IT firm in Mumbai, Samual’s daily life was rooted in the precision of syntax and code, making the fluid, often unpredictable nature of painting a necessary counterpoint.
2023: The Literary Spark
The turning point occurred when a friend introduced Samual to Jayakrishnan’s Chithrakathayil Avante Bhoothangal. The novel’s magical realism resonated with Samual’s emerging style. One specific scene—a character navigating a violent sea in a boat constructed entirely of intertwined roots—prompted her first inspired painting. This work eventually caught the eye of Jayakrishnan himself.
2024: Collaborative Attempts
Recognizing a kindred spirit in her work, Jayakrishnan approached Samual to illustrate specific scenarios from his text that he felt required a different visual perspective. While six paintings were initially intended for the novel’s official release event in 2024, personal exigencies prevented Samual from participating. However, the creative momentum did not stall.
2025–2026: From Concept to Exhibition
By September 2025, Samual had completed 25 works. Although a joint exhibition with the author was discussed, logistical challenges led to the current solo debut. The culmination of this six-year journey is the current showcase in Thiruvananthapuram, which opened in mid-September 2026 and is scheduled to run until September 23.
Supporting Data: Techniques and Visual Leitmotifs
The technical execution of ‘Unbound’ reveals a sophisticated understanding of medium. Samual utilizes the opacity and boldness of acrylics to ground the more "mortal" elements of her work, while watercolors are employed to depict the "magical"—the translucent shadows, the ephemeral mist, and the shifting tides.
One of the most discussed pieces in the collection depicts a character whose silhouette seems to dissolve into a garden of oversized, vibrant flowers. This piece, according to gallery notes, represents the "dissolution of the ego into the environment," a core theme of the source novel.
The use of "roots" as a recurring image serves as a powerful metaphor for ancestry and stability in a world that is otherwise "unbound." In the painting featuring the root-boat, the intricate webbing of the vessel suggests that our only safety in the "turbulent sea" of existence comes from our connections to our origins and the earth.
Data from the gallery indicates a high level of engagement from the local youth and the IT community, many of whom have expressed interest in Samual’s "dual-career" path. The exhibition serves as a case study for the "Neo-Artist" movement—professionals who leverage the discipline of their primary careers to fuel a late-blooming but intense artistic output.
Official Responses: The Artist and the Curator Speak
Speaking at the gallery, Mary Samual emphasized that her work is not a literal illustration of the book but a subjective emotional response.
"These works are my independent interpretation," Samual stated. "The text of Chithrakathayil Avante Bhoothangal does not follow a linear narrative structure. It is a labyrinth. This lack of a fixed path allowed me the freedom to find my own symbols within Jayakrishnan’s world. His background as an artist makes his writing visually rich; every page is a prompt to create."
Samual also reflected on her transition from the corporate world to the gallery walls. "In IT, clarity and logic are paramount. In art, and specifically in magical realism, there is a beauty in the unexplained. Painting these 25 works was a process of unlearning that rigid logic."
Curator K.P. Sreekrishnan noted the cinematic quality of Samual’s compositions. "There is a sense of ‘the frame’ in Mary’s work. She understands how to direct the viewer’s eye through a landscape of shadows and light. By pairing the paintings with the Malayalam and English text, we are inviting the audience to engage in a multi-sensory reading of the story."
Representatives from the Alliance Française de Trivandrum highlighted the importance of hosting debut artists who bridge cultural and linguistic gaps. "To see a Mumbai-based artist interpreting a Malayalam graphic novel here in Kerala creates a beautiful cultural circle," a spokesperson for the institution remarked.
Implications: The Future of Interdisciplinary Art in India
The success of ‘Unbound’ carries several implications for the broader Indian art market and cultural landscape:
1. The Democratization of Art
Samual’s journey from a pandemic hobbyist to a solo exhibitor at a prestigious venue like Alliance Française underscores the democratization of the art world. The traditional gatekeeping of "art school only" backgrounds is being challenged by dedicated self-starters who utilize digital resources and private mentorship to reach professional standards.
2. The Resurgence of Magical Realism
While magical realism has long been a staple of Indian literature (most notably in the works of Salman Rushdie and various Malayalam novelists), its translation into contemporary visual art has seen a recent resurgence. ‘Unbound’ suggests that audiences are increasingly drawn to art that acknowledges the "hidden" or "spiritual" layers of reality, perhaps as a response to the hyper-digitalization of modern life.
3. Literature as a Visual Catalyst
The exhibition highlights a growing trend of "inter-media" collaboration. By using a graphic novel as a springboard, Samual is tapping into a pre-existing narrative community, bringing readers of the novel into art galleries and vice-versa. This cross-pollination is essential for the survival of both the publishing and fine arts industries.
4. The "Second Act" Career
Samual’s profile as a language professional in an IT firm serves as an inspiration for the "Second Act" career. As work-life balance becomes a central theme in urban India, more professionals are expected to seek high-level creative outlets, potentially leading to a surge in high-quality "amateur-turned-professional" exhibitions.
As ‘Unbound’ continues its run through September 23, it stands as a testament to the fact that creativity, once unleashed, cannot be contained by the boundaries of a single profession or a single medium. In the turbulent seas of the modern era, Mary Samual has found her "boat of roots," and she is inviting the world to climb aboard.
Exhibition Details:
- Unbound
- Artist: Mary Samual
- Venue: Alliance Française de Trivandrum, Vazhuthacaud
- Dates: Ongoing until September 23, 2026
- Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Entry: Free to the public
