The Unique Kaavi Kale Art Form Makes Its Way at Mangalore Airport: See it on Ceiling & Wall

Rare and local Kaavi Kale art form has made its prime space at Mangalore International Airport. Kaavi Kale art is seen on the ceiling, wall, and beam of the current international busing arrival area. Created by Kaavi Kale artist and research scholar Janardhan Rao Havanje, the art form is the latest addition to the varied and growing art form repertoire at MIA.

The Kaavi Kale works include floral wonder of Kaavi art on the ceiling, floral design and patterns on the beam and a colonial treat on the wall. This unique artform uses red oxide as the base. The intricate patterns that emerge when dexterous hands chip away at this base is a visual treat to savour. Even domestic arrival passengers have a ringside view of this art form as they descend the escalator.

Kaavi Kale is the indigenous architectural ornamentation technique of the Konkan coast in India. Kaavi means red oxide and kale means art form, says Janardhan Rao Havanje, who has co-authored a treatise on this subject Caroline D’Souza. The art form has been suspended some 15 metres from the ground with new frames on the ceiling and on the wall paneling specially done for the walls.