French Artist Dey MKO Paints New Mural Celebrating Women and Nature in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram’s cultural corridor has a new splash of colour thanks to a bold piece of mural art by French artist Dey MKO. For years Manaveeyam Veedhi has been known for its vibrant public walls and artistic displays, and now this pedestrian stretch has another striking visual that blends local inspiration with the artist’s own voice.

The mural was created as part of the Wall Art India festival, an initiative that brings together artists from different countries to transform urban spaces into open galleries. This year the theme was Women, Horizons & New Voices in Urban Art, and Dey MKO’s work reflects that idea by centring on a large female figure rising from the trunk of a flowering tree, with tendrils of nature and swirling waves around her. Words like Verukal (meaning “roots”) and Identities are painted nearby, adding meaning to the imagery.

When she worked on the piece, the artist said she drew inspiration from both Kerala’s natural world and her own upbringing on Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. The tree, ocean elements and the presence of women in her art are all part of how she sees continuity, growth and connection between places.

What makes this mural even more special is how it involved the local community. Student volunteers helped paint many sections, from the tree branches to the lettering, finishing the work in two days instead of the planned four. That collaboration, Dey MKO says, is one of the strengths of street art — it brings people together, invites conversation and gives art a place in everyday public life.

The colourful new mural now adds a fresh visual layer to Manaveeyam Veedhi, which is already known as a site where street art, performances and cultural expressions come together along its open gallery walls.