Bodybuilders for Tilfi, 2026 © Keerthana Kunnath

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.

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.

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