Foam 3h presents the first museum exhibition of photographer Keerthana Kunnath. For her debut series Not What You Saw, Kunnath has been photographing female bodybuilders in Kerala, South India. The images show women flexing their muscles against the backdrop of Kerala's lush landscapes, combining physical strength with a softness rarely associated with the sport. Through her work she opens up a conversation about gender, sexuality and mental health, topics that are rarely discussed openly in her homeland of India.

The project Not What You Saw began organically, when Kunnath met a handful of female bodybuilders from the region; the group later grew to more than a dozen. Spending time with them, she came to understand the full weight of their commitment: the physical demands of the sport, the emotional strain, and the financial pressure of choosing this career. Determined to build visibility and respect for these women, she got to know their friends and families, spent time with them in their homes outside the shoots, and followed them to competitions. She photographs the women not only in the context of bodybuilding, but also in domestic scenes and quieter moments of everyday life, creating space for comfort, vulnerability, and quiet confidence to emerge.

For Kunnath, the project is both document and provocation: a tribute to trailblazing women, and a call to rethink cultural constructs of gender and beauty. Kunnath’s visual language is striking and graceful - characterized by a rich colour pallette and the softness of a southern Indian sunset.

The exhibition questions stereotypes and preconceptions of what a woman could and should look like and asks the viewer to think twice. The title, Not What You Saw, indicates that what we thought we knew, what we believed typical or acceptable, is shifting.

Not What You Saw tells the stories of Aishu, Bhumika, Jannat, Kavitha, Sandra and others who move between domestic life and the weight room. Through Kunnath’s lens we observe how their bodies transform through intense training cycles, witnessing how setbacks shape them, and how their goals continue to evolve with their confidence. Empowerment here takes on a new meaning.

About the artist

Keerthana Kunnath (1995) is a London-based Indian visual artist who uses her medium to initiate conversations around socio-cultural issues. Kunnath attended the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi, which led her to image making. Continuing her studies at the London College of Fashion, she refocused on photography and the fine art aspect of image-making. Her practice interweaves analogue photography, field recordings, and printing, constructing an intricate dialogue around identity, sexuality, and womanhood through long-term introspective projects. Kunnath’s work is deeply rooted in personal and collective memories and interrogates the intersection of intimacy, queerness and community. Kunnath received a place within the shortlisted artists of the OD Photo Prize 2024.

About Foam 3h

Foam 3h is the exhibition space within Foam where recently graduated artists and photographers are invited to present their first solo exhibition. Foam selects national and international artists whose portfolios deserve to be seen by the world. The artists are encouraged to experiment, surprise and push the boundaries of photography.

Keerthana Kunnath – Not What You Saw can be seen from 18 September 2026 – 27 November 2027 at Foam. Open daily 10.00 – 18.00 hrs, Thurs/Fri 10.00 – 21.00 hrs.

Foam

Keizersgracht 609

1017 DS Amsterdam

The Netherlands

+ 31 (0)20 5516500

www.foam.org