Improving sustainability for the conservation of the Eravimangalam Subramanyaswamy Temple. Virtual reconstruction and greener formulations as a means of involving the community

The centuries-old Eravimangalam Subramanyaswamy Temple in the Malappuram district of Kerala, India, is one of many active temples with significant remnants of historical outdoor wall paintings threatened with being rebuilt/replastered with modern materials. As the significance of the site to the local community is the figure of the deity housed within the temple, the shrine’s outer structure carrying the historical wall paintings is considered replaceable. This work explores the creation of tools that communities can use in the future to make an informed choice about sustainable conservation of their heritage, and to place some significance on the structure as well as the deity represented. The study uses two main approaches: virtual reconstruction, and the testing of greener formulations for the removal of deposits on outdoor wall paintings. 3D reconstruction and image manipulation were used to create visualizations of a possible finished treatment, and supported by cleaning tests on mock-ups of the wall paintings that reproduce the original materials, techniques, and their present condition. Testing of greener formulations was performed to remove deposits from burning oil lamps, as commonly used in temples in Kerala. The tested products that are derived from natural feedstocks are safer for human beings and will enable the local conservators to work with them without any adverse effects. This work aims to serve as a means to initiate community involvement in decision-making and create opportunities for sustainable conservation.