Deccan Colors: Art Gallery Guide

BRANDING • LAYOUT DESIGN • PRINT DESIGN •

I wanted to represent South Indian culture with a fictional exhibit called Deccan Colors, which is an immersive experience in the beauty and craftsmanship of South Indian handicrafts and mural paintings. This exhibit challenges us to consider how aesthetics and ethics intertwine, creating dialogues about tradition, identity, and the evolving roles of art institutions. I drew inspiration from traditional art, textiles, and architecture while translating it into a modern, accessible gallery guide.

Cultural Context

Deccan Colors takes its name from the Sanskrit word “Dakshina,” meaning “south,” which refers to the Deccan Plateau, a region in southern India. On view at the Hopkins Hall Gallery in Columbus, from January 17 to March 8, the exhibition would feature nine curated art objects that reflect the rich cultural and visual diversity of the region. The printed gallery guide highlights five key works, offering visitors a deeper look into the vibrant themes and narratives that shape the exhibit.

View final guidebook here!
What’s Inside:

introduction
gallery map
upcoming events
exhibit highlights: mural paintings
exhibit highlights: textiles
exhibit highlights: wood carvings
acknowledgements
gallery guidelines

Sources

All artwork images and descriptions from Google Arts and Culture.
Information from:

https://diversedestination.com/author/admin. “Textiles of Southern India.” Diverse Destination - Building Bonds beyond Boundaries., 30 Dec. 2022
“KALAMKARI.” The Design Cart
“Sundari Silks.” Sundari Silks, 2024
Kavya Shree. “History of Tanjore Painting | Ethnic.” Ethnic Tanjore Arts, 29 Jan. 2024
Rajvanshi, Nehal. “Tanjore Paintings: A Living Legacy.” PeepulTree, 5 Mar. 2021

Final Thoughts

Working on Deccan Colors has been a rewarding experience to me since it allowed me to connect with my Southern Indian heritage through design! Bringing this project together felt like piecing together childhood memories of visiting local art galleries and textile shopping in India. The process became more than just a project, it became a way to reconnect with home and share that cultural richness with others in a meaningful and intentional way.