Beyond the Visible: Colour, Myth, and Metaphysical Consciousness in Theyyam Performance
Minna Ann Andrews, Sunaina Mohd Yousuf, V Janane
November 3, 2026 DOI: 10.64643/jatir.141284 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the colours used in Theyyam ritual performance—red, black, white, yellow, and green, applied as natural pigments—embody metaphysical meaning, spiritual transformation, and socio-political resistance, and that this performative use of colour both animates divine presence and reclaims marginalised identities. Proposes that Theyyam functions as a living archive of community aesthetics, memory, and survival rather than merely a spectacle. |
Abstract
The ritual art of Theyyam, rooted in the tribal-Dravidian traditions of northern Kerala, offers a vivid interplay of colour, performance, and symbolism.This paper explores the deep aesthetic and cultural significance of the colour palette used in Theyyam, with particular focus on natural pigments and their ritualistic and psychological implications.Drawing from visual anthropology, folklore, and art history, the study decodes how colours like red, black, white, yellow, and green embody metaphysical meaning, spiritual transformation, and socio-political resistance.The performative use of colour not only animates divine presence but also reclaims marginalised identities through symbolic assertion.Theyyam emerges not merely as a spectacle, but as a living archive of community aesthetics, memory, and survival.