"Native ball" is a collection of four bodies of works set in Kerala. A compendium on various phenomena, it brings together moments from alternative histories of a culture and region, some of which are based on commonalities that may be odd but significant. It puts forward the breakdown of plans, inescapable outcomes, and the future as a space ripe for speculation. Comprising 43 colour plates and 33 texts in both English and Malayalam, the book is a record of a people and place—filled with overlaps, intersections, insights, and misunderstandings.
Anup Mathew Thomas (born 1977) is an Indian artist based in Berlin. Working primarily with the photograph, his works engage ostensibly local narratives, introducing audiences to stories that may have gone missing from the archive. Over the last two decades, he has produced a series of projects that engage with and make reference to the cultural history of his native Kerala.
