Admission for the year 2026 - 2027 Started - Click Here

News and Events Details

  • ART VISIT

    • March 30, 2026
    Immerse in Artistic Heritage: Kuthiramalika Palace Art Visit for Animation & VFX Students

    The Department of Animation and Visual Effects at Yeldo Mar Baselios College proudly organized an enriching Art Visit to the iconic Kuthiramalika Palace in Trivandrum on 30 March 2026, exclusively for our First-Year students. Nestled in the heart of Kerala's cultural landscape, this 19th-century architectural gem-also known as Puthenmalika Palace Museum-served as a living canvas of inspiration. Students explored its legendary wooden sculptures, mythical horse motifs (kuthira meaning 'horse' in Malayalam), and intricate carvings that blend Travancore royalty with artistic mastery. This hands-on excursion bridged centuries-old craftsmanship with modern digital artistry, igniting fresh perspectives for our budding animators. For VFX students, the visit offered profound benefits in character design and texturing. The palace's hyper-detailed wooden figurines-depicting gods, mythical creatures, and royal motifs-provided real-world references forcreating authentic, culturally resonant 3D models. Students analyzed the play of light and shadow on these sculptures, gaining insights into advanced texturing techniques like bump mapping, normal mapping, and subsurface scattering. By studying the organic flow of carvings, they learned to infuse historical depth into digital characters, enhancing realism in animations inspired by Kerala's heritage. The architectural marvels of Kuthiramalika further empowered students in historical VFX storytelling. From the palace's curved gables and lattice screens to its ornate brackets, participants sketched and photographed elements ideal for environment modeling and matte painting. These experiences honed skills in recreating period-specific scenes for VFX projects, such as epic fantasy sequences or heritage recreations. Students experimented particle simulations on-site, blending traditional motifs with cutting-edge tools like Houdini or Blender, fostering innovative narratives that honor tradition while pushing creative boundaries. This visit elevated our students' ability to merge Kerala's artistic legacy with contemporary animation pipelines. They returned with portfolios enriched by mood boards, reference libraries, and concept sketches-direct takeaways for coursework in rigging, lighting, and compositing. By immersing in such tangible artistry, VFX enthusiasts at YMBC are better equipped to produce globally competitive work that celebrates cultural roots. Stay tuned for student spotlights and project showcases from this transformative outing!



Back to Events

Recent Posts