Understanding
What it really is
Leather is a natural material created through the treatment and preservation of animal hide. Its strength, flexibility, and responsiveness to tools make it one of the most enduring materials across craft traditions.
In the context of traditional practices, leather is not merely a raw resource but a medium that carries transformation. It undergoes processes of curing, drying, and finishing, each step influencing its texture, translucency, and durability.
In shadow puppetry traditions such as Tholpavakoothu, leather takes on a distinct role. Treated and perforated with intricate detailing, it becomes both surface and structure — capable of holding light, color, and movement simultaneously. This transformation allows the material to move beyond utility into narrative, where it becomes a carrier of story and symbolism.
Connections
What it relates to
Stories
How it is experienced
The Night the Shadows Speak
Read story →Context
Where it belongs
Across South Asia
Ancient to Contemporary
Leather represents one of the earliest human engagements with natural material transformation. Its use reflects an understanding of preservation, durability, and adaptation — turning perishable organic matter into a long-lasting resource. In craft traditions, leather often carries layered meanings. It is both utilitarian and symbolic, appearing in everyday objects as well as ritual and performative contexts.
Traditionally, leather preparation is a labor-intensive process involving curing, stretching, and drying. These techniques are often passed through generations, forming part of localized craft knowledge systems. In performance traditions like Tholpavakoothu, leather is treated specifically to achieve translucency, allowing it to interact with light and shadow. This specialized use situates the material within a performative and ritual context.
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Where to go next
Each path leads deeper into the system — follow what draws your curiosity.