‘Lilies in the Garden of Tomorrow’ by British artist Sarah Chandy – presented as part of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale official Collateral Programme – is now open. The project is one of only eight to have been chosen by a panel of national and international jurors.
The exhibition is inspired by the letters and diaries of Eliamma Matthen, a Syrian Christian from South India, and the artist’s great-grandmother-in-law, who navigated the political persecution of her husband, C.P. Matthen, co-founder of the Travancore National and Quilon Bank, in the years running up to India’s independence.
‘Letters weigh heavy’, 2025 Copyright Sarah Chandy
Spanning five generations of memory and exploring what this means in terms of ancestral inheritance, ‘Lilies in the Garden of Tomorrow’ follows Eliamma’s fight against the unjust imprisonment of her husband, and her efforts to maintain her family and community. It is a story of female strength and tenacity amidst the social constructs and constraints of a man’s world. As such, it is an emotive and affecting reflection on the oft-unseen role of women in crisis, as witnesses to injustice and agents of creative resistance.
“Eliamma’s words resonated powerfully with me. As women we carry invisible emotional loads for our families as well as having to act reliably and regularly to maintain care and continuity. She had to step well beyond her comfort zone to achieve her goals against all odds.”
Sarah Chandy 
‘Work of endurance’ Lilies in the Garden of Tomorrow, Envelopes wall
The project is a work of process by the artist, who weaves together publicly archived records, family correspondence, diary entries, and artefacts with new, collaborative and intimate photo/audio performances that embody memories consciously and unconsciously present in Eliamma’s descendants today. Visitors to the exhibition are also part of this process. Rather than observing a fixed narrative, they are invited to reflect on the pieces of her story and to share memories and messages within the gallery space.
‘Absolute trust’, 2025 Copyright Sarah Chandy
It was Eliamma’s expressed wish that one day this chapter of her story would be told. Through this work, the artist seeks not only to honour one woman’s story, but also to examine how families carry memory, how memory resists power, and how acts of remembrance — particularly those passed down through women — serve as resistance against erasure, and the singularity of official narrative.
‘I first encountered Lilies in the Garden of Tomorrow at Photofusion London this summer and was immediately drawn to this fascinating story of female fortitude, at a particularly tense and tumultuous time in India’s history. As I spoke to Sarah about the project, I grew more inspired and knew it needed to be seen in Kerala. I’m so grateful that Kochi Muzuris Biennale felt the same. Being part of the collateral programme has given us the opportunity to the expand the exhibition, in size and scope. I’m excited to see how people connect with the work in this geographical, historic and artistic context, which I know they will do profoundly.
Bakul Patki, Curator
‘Lilies in The Garden of Tomorrow’ by Sarah Chandy, December 14th, 2025 – March 31st, 2026, 10AM-6PM daily, Arrow Mark I Nosh Haus Café, Jew Town Road, Kochi, Kerala 68200.
Part of the official Collateral Programme of the sixth Kochi-Muziris Biennale
The exhibition is curated by Bakul Patki, produced by Yolk Studio, and is supported by the British Council and TNQ Foundation
About the artist
Sarah Chandy is a photographer and journalist, based in London, whose photography focuses on women, identity and community.
In 2025, she completed an MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography with Distinction at the London College of Communication.
Sarah’s journalism career spans 20 years, comprising 10 years as a reporter for The Hindu in Chennai, 5 years covering science in the Arab world for Nature Middle East, and 5 years broadcasting on developments in life sciences for Springer Nature in London. Her work has been exhibited at Barcelona Biennale (2024) ABBF, Peckham (2024) and the Free Fange Festival (2022). She was recognised with three Honourable Mentions from the Julia Margaret Cameron Award (2022). sarahchandy.com
About the curator
Bakul Patki is a curator, creative producer and writer working for over two decades across arts and culture. She works independently and for organisations to devise, develop and deliver projects with artists, institutions, festivals, and charities. She is passionate about bringing art into the public realm – extending reach and amplifying impact by removing physical, social and/or perceived barriers.
Bakul has curated and produced exhibitions, installations and performances at prestigious locations and events, including Royal Hampton Court Palace, Somerset House, Piccadilly Circus (London), Photo Museum of Ireland (Dublin), Museum of Fine Arts (Budapest), and Documenta 15 (Kassel).
She regularly hosts and participates in talks, most recently speaking on Art Dubai’s panel, ‘Reimagining Public Space: Art, Architecture and the Politics of Urban Identity’, and moderating the closing panel at the inaugural Stir/ADFF Mumbai, ‘Culture is Ordinary’.
She is an editorial contributor to FAD Magazine and Marie Claire UK, for whom she recently launched ‘In The Frame’, a monthly column showcasing women shaping arts, culture and the creative industries.
Bakul is currently Curator of The Gallery, a major public art project founded by Artichoke Trust and artist Martin Firrell. bakulpatki.com
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