This digital art gallery has taken art out of the white cube of a gallery and into a home in Kochi

One of the many pluses of the Kochi Muziris Biennale is that it opens new galleries around it and new ways of showcasing art. And At Home with LMSA is one such novel attempt, which takes art outside the conventional white cube space of a gallery which locates art in an isolating, context-less space, and into a home. Neenu Jacob has, literally, thrown open her apartment at Kochu Kadavanthra as an intimate gallery space where she is showing the art works of four Kerala artists. LMSA is a digital art gallery, which works with mid career and emerging artists.  

Neenu Jacob 
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With the comforting noises of a home becoming a background score of sorts, one takes in the works of Sruthi Sivakumar, Surabhi P, Sabitha Kadannappally, and visual artist Sebin Joseph’s works mounted on the walls, the centre table of the living room and the counter top. As of now LMSA works with nine artists including those whose works are on show.

Neenu intends LMSA as a platform which will not only showcase but also facilitate sale of the works of mid-career and emerging artists from South Asia. It is designed based on how she goes about collecting her art, by learning more about the art and the artist. An MBA, Neenu, a strategy and growth executive, has more than 20 years of experience in consumer internet, media and retail. Though Neenu does not have the conventional background in art, she has developed her eye by constantly attending exhibitions and keeping track of the contemporary art scene. 

Sruthi Sivakumar’s works on display
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Art and everyday life co-exist rather than remain distinct, as Neenu’s curatorial note announces. Neenu and her assistant Niharika Kishore, who helps with the curation, go about their work, ready to help if one wants to know more. There is no rush, because it is in a home where there is the luxury of sitting with the art, it is comfortable. This is LMSA’s first such show, moving on Neenu intends to taking to other cities as well, the first of which will be at her home in Bengaluru followed by other cities. Although a digital gallery, Neenu envisions LMSA has more immersive than a listing gallery. The website offers insights into the artists, their take on their works and process.

Surabhi P’s kleinformat sculptures
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About why she put together the show in this format, she says, “When we were thinking about LMSA, and the exhibition, we wanted to make it accessible and we’d like to make it intimate. We have glossed over the fact that a lot of people feel like they can’t go into a gallery unless they know more about art. We are trying to say that you will know more when you engage with art, sit with it. The setting of a home encourages you to be unguarded and keep things real. And this space adds to that reality.” 

The art works that Neenu has put on show have a resonance with Kerala, one of the reasons why she picked them. Another is that she wants shows such as these to serve as an introduction to new artists, while encouraging viewers to look at them from the perspective of collectors.

The painting are on sale. With the Biennale, Neenu hopes that visitors would consider picking up art by Kerala artists, “why pick up designer garments as souvenirs when you can buy art?”

The exhibition timings are from 11am to 6pm, for appointments call 9995556618.

Published – February 06, 2026 03:17 pm IST