Objects of Memory: Temple Town’s Kochi store sparks a dialogue on art, design and heritage

Heirlooms are often considered anomalies in the archaeological world, escaping the rigid chronology of linear time. These beloved objects carry multitudes within themselves, acting as repositories of collective memory. Therefore, when it came to finding a space in Kochi for the Thrissur-based Temple Town, founder Meera Pyarelal chose a sprawling 8,000 sq ft renovated traditional house inside the Museum of Kerala History.

Across two floors, the art, artefact and design studio invites you into a discourse on the legacy of craft but with a nouveau spin. 

Growing up abroad, Meera was surrounded by what she describes as “all the English stuff.” Upon returning to Kerala, she was mesmerised by not just the stone and wood architecture but also the culture of repurposing. For her, however, modern India calls for a reinterpretation of heritage.

“We’ve got to mix it up for the next generation so that our traditions are not lost, but at the same time, they can enjoy the best of both worlds,” Meera elaborates. This dichotomy of time and geography is also visible in the collections, from the Windsor armchair that “goes with anything Indian” to a three-centuries-old antique device from the ertswhile Kingdom of Travancore, used for counting silver coins to the textiles sourced from across the country. Temple Town is also mindful of uplifting the communities of artisans whose tacit knowledge imbues their objects and spaces with handcrafted finesse. Over two decades of practice, Meera has been creating objects for contemporary living that hold the chronicles of the past while ageing into heirlooms for the future.

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