PHOTOMUSE_FESTIVAL

The PhotoMuse Festival is founded on the PhotoMuse Museum’s mission to promote and propagate photography in all its forms. Rooted in humanism and camaraderie, the Festival seteks to bridge divides across gender, race, and nationality. At its core is a belief in photography’s power to reshape perspectives, shift attitudes, and foster empathy across the world.

Date
October 2, 2026 - January 31, 2027
Venue
PhotoMuse Museum Gallery and several parallel spaces in the state.
Festival Theme
Open Origins - Open Ends

Collaborators

The Selectors

Herbert Ascherman Jr.

Herbert Ascherman Jr. is an internationally acclaimed photographer with over 50 years of experience in fine art and portrait photography, renowned for his black-and-white and platinum prints. His work has been exhibited and published across the United States, Europe, Japan, and India. He has served as an advisor to PhotoMuse – The Museum of Photography, India, since its inception in 2014.

Michael Weil

Michael Weil is a distinguished photographer and art historian specializing in the history of photography. He holds a Ph.D. in Art History from Case Western Reserve University and has taught at several institutions, including Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and Cleveland State University. His work combines fine art photography with scholarly research, contributing significantly to the study of photographic history.

Deepak John Mathew

Deepak John Mathew is a designer, educator, and photographer, serving as the Innovation Ambassador for the Indian Innovation Council and Professor & Head of the Department of Design at Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad. A former Commonwealth Fellow and NID professor, his work bridges design, innovation, and conceptual photography.

Aditya Arya

Aditya Arya is a renowned Indian photographer whose career began in 1980. He is the founding director and curator of Museo Camera, South Asia’s largest not-for-profit photography museum, and is widely recognized for his contributions to advertising, corporate, and documentary photography.

Leonard Murray Metcalf

Leonard Murray Metcalf is the founder and head teacher of Lens School of Photography in Australia.  Len is renowned for his exquisite photographs and supportive, gentle teaching style.   His broad experience both as an art educator, juror of several photo events, photographer and fine-art print maker sets him among the top photo artists of his country. Len has been a Mainline photo product Ambassador for many years now.

The Curator

dr_unni_pulikkal

Dr. Unni Pulikkal S.

Dr. Unni Pulikkal S. is an Indian photo-artist, printmaker, author, educator, and physician. A Senior Fellow in Creative Photography from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society, London, he is the founder and curator of PhotoMuse – The Museum of Photography and the Art Museum of Love in Kerala. His work spans photographic art, curation, photo history, and contemporary visual culture.

Program Schedule

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

 

OCTOBER 2, PhotoMuse Museum, Chungal, Thrissur

  1. Inauguration / PhotoMuse Museum / 3 PM
  2. INNERSCAPES / Theo Berends / The Netherlands / Print Exhibition of Photography / until Oct 15
  3. Vivek Vilasini / India / Projected Image Exhibition / 5 PM
  4. THE EVOLUTION OF CAMERA – An exhibition of antique photographic equipment / until Dec.30

OCTOBER 2, Vijayakumar Menon Memorial Gallery, Kodaly, Thrissur

  1. NOTES OF LIGHT Edn. II / Print Exhibition of Photography / Group show curated by Nandakumar Moodadi / until October 31

OCTOBER 3, Art Museum of Love, Kodakara, Thrissur

  1. Photo-Based Murals / Ramesh Kovummal / India / Painting Exhibition / until October 15 / 3 PM
  2. Jayanandan / Print Exhibition of Photography / until October 15 / 3 PM
  3. Painting & Photography – Interdisciplinary Evolution / Dr.Shaju Nellai, Art historian / Talk / 3.30 PM
  4. Artist’s Talk / K. Jayanandan / India / 4.30 PM
  5. DiaFragma International Photography & Visual Arts Festival / Portugal / Projected Exhibition / 5.00 PM
  6. Abuja Photo Festival / Nigeria / Projected Exhibition / 5.30 PM
  7. BALKOWITSCH / Documentary film 6 PM

OCTOBER 4, Ooraly Theatre, Manakkodi, Thrissur.

  1. FLOATING BODIES / Abheesh Sasidharan / India / Performance / 6 PM

OCTOBER 7, Durbar Hall Art Center, Ernakulam

  1. Thaha Muhammed / India / Print Exhibition of Photography / until October 13 / 4 PM
  2. Cibachrome Printing / Thaha Muhammed/ Lecture Demonstration 4.30 PM

OCTOBER 9, Art Museum of Love, Kodakara, Thrissur

  1. EDAKKAL CAVES / A.T. Mohanraj / Dr. N. Sajan /Documentary Film / 11.00 AM
  2. 144 YEARS OF WAITING / Claire Laborde / France / Projected Exhibition / 12.30 AM

OCTOBER 11, Durbar Hall Art Center, Ernakulam

  1. Indian Entries to ROME PHOTOLAB Exchange Exhibition / Digital Exhibition / 5 PM

OCTOBER 12, TKM College of Architecture, Kollam

  1. Niranjan Das Sharma / India / Print exhibition / until October 16 / 10 AM
  2. Artist’s Talk / Niranjan Das Sharma / 10.30 AM

OCTOBER 16, Art Museum of Love, Kodakara, Thrissur

  1. Sethu A.N. / India / Print Exhibition of Photography / until October 22 / 3 PM
  2. Ashlin Joshi / India / Print Exhibition of Photography / until October 22 / 3.30 PM
  3. UNDER THE SAND / Jaan Albalushi / Behrain / Documentary Film / 4 PM
  4. Indian Entries to ROME PHOTOLAB Exchange Exhibition / Digital Exhibition / 5 PM

OCTOBER 17, PhotoMuse Museum Gallery, Chungal, Thrissur

  1. REBUILDING MEMORIES – PhotoMuse Festival Juried Exhibition I / Print Exhibition / until October 27 / 3 PM
  2. 144 YEARS OF WAITING / Claire Laborde / France / Projected Exhibition / 4 PM
  3. Sao Paulo Festival of Photography / Brazil / Projected exhibition / 4.30 PM
  4. THE EYE OF CLEVELAND / Jim Koenigsaecker / USA / Documentary Film on the life of Herbert Ascherman / 5 PM

OCTOBER 23, Art Museum of Love, Kodakara, Thrissur

  1. CLOSED BODY / Sudheer C. / India / Print Exhibition / until October 30 / 3 PM
  2. NATURE’S ABSTRACT ART / Anil T. Prabhakaran / India / Print Exhibition / until October 30 / 3.30 PM
  3. BLEEDING OF THE EARTH / Anil T. Prabhakaran / India / Projected Exhibition / 4 PM
  4. ARTIST’S TALK / Anil T. Prabhakaran
  5. Rome Photo Lab / Italy / Projected Exhibition / 4.30 PM
  6. THE EYE OF CLEVELAND / Jim Koenigsaecker / USA / Documentary Film on the life of Herbert Ascherman /5 PM

OCTOBER 28, Darbar Hall Art Center, Ernakulam

  1. SCAPES / Print Exhibition / Bijulal M.D. / Curated by Vincent S. / until Nov. 1

OCTOBER 30, Prajyothinikethan College, Puthukkad, Thrissur

  1. OPEN ORIGINS – OPEN ENDS / Projected Exhibition of photographs & Talk / Nandakumar Moodadi/10 AM
  2. PHOTOGRAPHY AS A TOOL FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE SELF / Talk / Unni Pulikkal S. /10.30 AM

OCTOBER 30, Clint Art Gallery, Ernakulam

  1. Bony Keyar / India / Print Exhibition / Curated by Thaha Muhammed / 5 PM

OCTOBER 31, Art Museum of Love, Kodakara, Thrissur

  1. Rajeev Mannayam / Print Exhibition of Photography / until November 12 / 10 AM
  2. LOVE IS BLOSSOMING / Nisha Menon / India / Print exhibition / until November 12 / 10 AM

OCTOBER 31, PhotoMuse Museum Gallery, Chungal, Thrissur

  1. MEMORIES OF EARTH – PhotoMuse Festival Juried Exhibition II / Print Exhibition / until November 12 / 2 PM
  2. DiaFragma International Photography & Visual Arts Festival / Portugal / Projected Exhibition / 3 PM
  3. Experimental Photo Festival, Barcelona / Spain / Projected Exhibition / 3.30 PM
  4. Mexico Street Photo Festival / Mexico / Projected Exhibition / 4 PM
  5. BETWEEN ASHES & ROOTS / Sabrina Fiore / Italy / Projected Exhibition / 4.30 PM
  6. RAPINOSA / Giulio Messina / Italy / Projected Exhibition / 5 PM
  7. BALKOWITSCH / Shane Balkowitsch/ USA / Documentary film / 5.30 PM

NOVEMBER 1, PURA Art Casa, Kodaly, Thrissur

  1. The Ethnic Eye / Exhibition of Child Art / Curated by Priya Shibu / 5 PM

NOVEMBER 1, Vijayakumar Menon Memorial Gallery, Kodaly, Thrissur

  1. NOTES OF LIGHT Edn. III / Print Exhibition of Photography / Group show curated by Nandakumar Moodadi / until November 30

NOVEMBER 4, Kannur University Campus

  1. Photography Presentation / Deepaprasad T.K, Times of India / 10 AM
  2. EDAKKAL CAVES / A.T. Mohanraj / Dr. N. Sajan /Documentary Film

NOVEMBER 13, Gramani Gallery, Thiruvegappura, Pattambi, Palakkad

  1. STREET: HER STORY / Meera Sreekumar / India / Print Exhibition / until November 20 / 4 PM
  2. INTO THE WILD / Sreekumaran M.S. / India / Print Exhibition / until November 20 / 4 PM

NOVEMBER 14, Art Museum of Love, Kodakara, Thrissur

  1. WISPERS IN BLACK AND WHITE / Prasanth S. / India / until November 26 / 10 AM
  2. A SLICE OF MY COMMUNITY / Niranjan Das Sharma / India / until November 26 / 10 AM
  3. DiaFragma International Photography & Visual Arts Festival / Portugal / Projected Exhibition / 10.30 AM
  4. Mexico Street Photo Festival / Mexico / Projected Exhibition / 11 AM
  5. Sao Paulo Festival of Photography / Brazil / Projected exhibition / 11.30 AM

NOVEMBER 14, PhotoMuse Museum Gallery, Chungal, Thrissur

  1. JOURNEY OF MEMORIES – PhotoMuse Festival Juried Exhibition III / Print Exhibition / until November 26 / 3 PM
  2. UNDER THE SAND / Jaan Albalushi / Behrain / Documentary Film / 4 PM
  3. Rome Photo Lab / Italy / Projected Exhibition / 5 PM
  4. Abuja Photo Festival / Nigeria / Projected Exhibition / 5.30 PM
  5. Indian Entries to ROME PHOTOLAB Exchange Exhibition / Digital Exhibition / 6 PM

NOVEMBER 18, Lalit Kala Academy, Calicut

  1. SCAPES / Print Exhibition / Bijulal M.D. / Curated by Vincent S. / until Nov. 24

NOVEMBER 28, Art Museum of Love, Kodakara, Thrissur

  1. TEAM PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP / India /Print Exhibition (Group) / until December 17 / 10 AM
  2. THE LAND AND MOTHERHOOD / Shaji Hussain / Qatar / until December 10 / 10 AM
  3. Vivek Vilasini / India / Projected Exhibition / 10.30 AM
  4. Experimental Photo Festival, Barcelona / Spain / Projected Exhibition / 11 AM
  5. BETWEEN ASHES & ROOTS / Sabrina Fiore / Italy / Projected Exhibition / 11.30 AM
  6. RAPINOSA / Giulio Messina / Italy / Projected Exhibition / 12 NOON

NOVEMBER 28, PhotoMuse Museum Gallery, Chungal, Thrissur

  1. CONFLUENCE / Group exhibition of handmade prints / until December 10 / 3 PM
  2. BALKOWITSCH / Documentary film / 4 PM

DECEMBER 1, Vijayakumar Menon Memorial Gallery, Kodaly, Thrissur

  1. NOTES OF LIGHT Edn. IV / Print Exhibition of Photography / Group show curated by Nandakumar Moodadi / until December 30 / 5 PM

DECEMBER 5, Kerala Lalit Kala Academy, Thrissur

  1. ‘TRAVELLING THROUGH KERALA WITH A CAMERA IN 1983’ / Robin Jeffrey / Canada / Curated by Adity Zacharias / Kerala History Museum, Edappally, Ernakulam. / Until December 30 / 2 PM
  2. Curator’s Talk / Adity Zacharias / Director of Kerala Museum, Edappally. / 2.30 PM
  3. ANNIHILATOR / Madhuraj / India / Print Exhibition / until December 17 / 3 PM
  4. Artist’s Talk / Madhuraj / India / 3.30 PM
  5. Vivek Vilasini / India / Projected Exhibition / 4 PM
  6. Sao Paulo Festival of Photography / Brazil / Projected Exhibition 4.30 PM

DECEMBER 5, Black Box Theatre, Sangeetha Nataka Academy, Thrissur

  1. ANASWARA PRAKASHAM / Performance / Fawas Ameer Hamsa / India / 6.PM

DECEMBER 6, Olattayil Art Gallery, Ponnani, Malappuram

  1. THE SUFI PATHS OF PONNANI / Salam Olattayil / India / until December 13 / 4 PM

DECEMBER 7, Kathirur Art Gallery, Thalassery, Kannur

  1. DISPERATE VISIONS / Print Exhibition of Photography / Group / 3PM

DECEMBER 12, Art Museum of Love, Kodakara, Thrissur.

  1. MENTALLY DOUBTFUL / Arun Inham / India / Print exhibition / until December 17 /10 AM
  2. Rome Photo Lab / Italy / Projected Exhibition / 10.30 AM
  3. BETWEEN ASHES & ROOTS / Sabrina Fiore / Italy / Projected Exhibition / 11 AM
  4. RAPINOSA / Giulio Messina / Italy / Projected Exhibition / 11.30 AM

DECEMBER 12, PhotoMuse Museum Gallery, Chungal, Thrissur

  1. HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT MAKING / Exhibition of photographic prints – from historic to the modern / until December 24 / 3 PM
  2. 200 YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHY / Seminar / 3.30 PM

DECEMBER 18, Art Museum of Love, Kodakara, Thrissur.

  1. IN THE LIGHT OF THE WILD / Krishnakumar Mechoor / India / Print Exhibition / until December 30 / 3 PM
  2. ENDANGERED LIVES / Suneer Muhammed / Qatar / Print Exhibition / until December 25 / 3 PM
  3. THE EYE OF CLEVELAND / Jim Koenigsaecker / USA / Documentary Film on the life of Herb. Ascherman / 4 PM

DECEMBER 19, Kerala Lalit Kala Academy, Thrissur

  1. BARBEQUE REPUBLIC / Hariharan S. / India / Print exhibition / / until December 30 / 3 PM
  2. THE EYE AND THE ARCHIVE / Hariharan S. / Talk / 3.30 PM
  3. Abuja Photo Festival / Nigeria / Projected Exhibition / 4 PM
  4. Experimental Photo Festival, Barcelona / Spain / Projected Exhibition /4.30 PM
  5. Mexico Street Photo Festival / Mexico / Projected Exhibition / 5 PM

DECEMBER 26, PhotoMuse Museum Gallery, Chungal, Thrissur

  1. HISTORY IN THE MAKING: The Visual Archives of Kulwant Roy / Museo Camera / Print Exhibition / Until January 28, 2027 / 3 PM
  2. UNDER THE SAND / Jaan Albalushi / Behrain / Documentary Film / 3.30 PM
  3. 144 YEARS OF WAITING / Claire Laborde / France / Projected Exhibition / 4 PM

JANUARY 31, PhotoMuse Museum Gallery, Chungal, Thrissur

  1. CLOSING CEREMONY / 4 PM