Art Scene India: Art Bangalore

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14 Jun 2025

Beyond the Reopening: Reviving Venkatappa Art Gallery

Venkatappa Art Gallery view, Art Scene India

After months of anticipation and extensive renovation efforts by The Brigade Foundation, the Venkatappa Art Gallery reopened its doors. More than 200 artists and enthusiasts gathered for the ‘Gallery Pravesha’ on the morning of 13th Jun, a day after the official inauguration, which was boycotted by the artist fraternity.

Rumale Chennabasaviah Exhibition

The renovated Venkatappa Art Gallery now has three exhibition spaces for artists, but only one was utilized for the inaugural display: a condensed yet well-presented exhibition on Rumale Chennabasaviah made possible by Sanjay Kabe. The absence of exhibitions in the other two galleries on the ground floor was in my opinion a missed opportunity—an inaugural showcase across all spaces would have added much to the event.

KK Hebbar Gallery

The second floor houses the K.K. Hebbar exhibition, unfortunately, non-functional lighting left a small section in partial darkness, and his publications were not on display, at least one could not spot them. A thoughtful reassessment of the design and display of this space would help in bringing a more coherent and engaged display and do justice to Hebbar’s legacy.

K. Venkatappa’s main gallery on the first floor, however, is well curated and presents his paintings, veenas, awards, and personal memorabilia all displayed in a manner that honours his multifaceted practice and interests. Yet here, too, flickering lights interrupted the experience—a recurring technical issue that needs resolution.

Having said that, all of these concerns are minor in comparison to what has been achieved during the restoration – from addressing leaky ceilings and walls, mold, and cracks, to structural repairs, well designed lighting and accessibility features with ramps and elevators, have made a huge difference. In addition, there is a 100-seat auditorium, a sculpture park, a cafe, and outdoor spaces which have been redesigned.

The overwhelming turnout from artists demonstrated the community’s commitment to supporting institutional spaces. Navigating the exhibits amid the crowds made it difficult to engage with the artworks in depth—and one would have to visit again to view the exhibitions in detail.

The Future

Looking ahead, several crucial aspects must be addressed. Clarity on how artists can book the gallery spaces, the fee structure, and programming guidelines must be communicated in a transparent manner. Furthermore, a dedicated team—comprising curators and art experts—should be established to steer the activities, ensuring thoughtful exhibitions, critical dialogue, and sustained engagement with the space.

Venkatappa Art Gallery with its unique location and its rich history has the potential to be a vibrant cultural hub, once again. With careful planning, artist-centered programming, and infrastructural refinements, it can evolve into an institution that not only preserves artistic legacies but also fosters contemporary conversations. The reopening was a significant milestone—now it’s time to ensure the momentum leads to meaningful change.

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10 Jun 2025

Art News: Venkatappa Art Gallery: Renovation

Venkatappa Art Gallery: Renovation

Rendered drawing only for representation

Established in 1975, the Venkatappa Art Gallery in Bengaluru has hosted generations of artists, fostering creativity and dialogue. However, years of neglect left the institution in dire need of restoration. The renovation was undertaken as part of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and aimed to modernize the gallery while preserving its historical essence. According to a Bangalore Mirror report, the project was completed at a cost exceeding Rs 8 crore with plans for five exhibition galleries, a permanent collection space, and enhanced infrastructure, including a dedicated artists’ room. The purpose of the restoration was to breathe new life into the venue, and ensure it remains a vital hub for cultural activities.

Despite the excitement surrounding the gallery’s reopening on June 12, controversy has emerged over the alleged ‘exclusion of the local art community’ from the event. While government officials and corporate representatives are expected to attend, many artists—who have long advocated for the gallery’s preservation—have reportedly been left out of the celebrations.

This exclusion has sparked discontent among Bengaluru’s artistic circles as evident through a number of social media posts. It must be pointed out that the gallery’s revival was largely driven by years of lobbying from several artists, who were diligent about keeping it from falling into private hands.

Future of Artistic Spaces

In general, it is important to include artists at every stage to ensure their involvement in shaping cultural institutions, and to avoid a precedent for a ‘top-down management of artistic spaces’, which could reduce opportunities for grassroots engagement.

Artists and cultural advocates are now calling for greater transparency and inclusivity in the gallery’s future programming. While the renovation is a welcome development, its success will ultimately depend on how well it serves the artistic community it was built for.

As Bengaluru’s art scene continues to evolve, the Venkatappa Art Gallery stands at a crossroads—will it remain a true home for artists, or become a polished but detached institution? The answer lies in how its custodians respond to the voices of those who have long fought for its survival.

What are your thoughts and suggestions on this topic?

Note: the article was updated on Jun 11

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6 Jun 2025

Namma Hampi - A Symbol of Lasting Beauty

In the 14th and 15th centuries, Hampi, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, was one of the most flourishing urban centers, with its architectural brilliance and vibrant economy. Even today it stands as a testament to the intersection of grandeur and destruction. Following the empire’s defeat in 1565, the city was left in ruins—a stark reminder of the fragile nature of power and prosperity.

‘Namma Hampi - The Epitome of Beauty’ by Lokesha R & Bhyrava B M, Art Scene India

This exhibition ‘Namma Hampi - The Epitome of Beauty’ by Lokesha R and Bhyrava B M seeks not only to celebrate Hampi’s artistic allure but to engage with its historical transformations, questioning the romanticized view of its remnants and reflecting on the forces that shaped its legacy.

The Virupaksha Temple, one of the few structures that survived the city’s downfall, remains an enduring religious landmark. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it continues to serve as a place of worship, defying the destruction that enveloped Vijayanagara. The temple’s towering entrance gateway and finely carved details exemplify the refined artistry of the Dravidian style. Yet, its significance goes beyond aesthetics—it embodies perseverance amid adversity. Beneath its surface lie subterranean chambers, enveloped in mythology and mystery, with traditions linking them to the exile of Lord Rama and Sita.

Deep within Hampi’s architectural wonders stands the Vijay Vittala Temple, a structure that symbolizes the lost magnificence of the empire. At its core lies the famed Stone Chariot, an icon of sculptural artistry. Designed to resemble ceremonial temple chariots, it forms a visual contradiction between movement and permanence. The temple complex, dedicated to Vishnu, once echoed with melodies from its ingenious musical pillars—columns so precisely carved that they emitted harmonic sounds when struck.

Hemakuta Hill offers an architectural contrast, rising above the Virupaksha Temple with its understated shrines and mandapas. Unlike the towering grandeur of other Vijayanagara temples, Hemakuta’s shrines are modestly scaled, harmonizing with the rocky terrain. Their surfaces, adorned with delicate carvings of lotus motifs, entwining foliage, and serene depictions of deities, reflect the spiritual essence of the era without excess. This exhibition, expressed through watercolor and textured techniques, does not merely present Hampi as a visual spectacle—it interrogates its historical narratives. It compels viewers to reevaluate the ruins beyond their aesthetic appeal, examining the cultural, political, and economic shifts that define them.

The featured artists, Bhyrava B M and Lokesha R, bring their distinctive perspectives to this exploration. Bhyrava, based in Mysore, captures the nuanced interplay between realism and emotion through his delicate yet intricate watercolors. Lokesha, with roots in Tumkur, approaches art as an evolving conversation, engaging in experimentation across mediums, with printmaking at its core. His work bridges artistic tradition with contemporary discourse, fostering engagement between creator and observer. Hampi’s stones embody both triumph and loss, and this collection does not merely admire them—it listens. It encourages viewers to reconsider what has been preserved, what has faded, and what echoes remain embedded in its legacy. Through each brushstroke, Hampi’s story is reinterpreted—not as a static monument but as a fluid, evolving testament to time.

The exhibition continues till Jun 8 at Karnataka Chiitrakala Parishath

References

- Catalogue text
- Fritz, J., & Michell, G. (2003). Hampi: A Travel Guide
- Raja, T. (2016). Dravidian Architecture and Vijayanagara Temples
- Thapar, R. (2012). Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300
- UNESCO. (2023). Hampi: A World Heritage Site

6 Oct 2022

Technology In Museums

Technology can effectively bridge the gap between museums and younger audiences to create seamless experiences that imitate ordinary interactions by adapting and enhancing the same tools that the younger generation uses on a regular basis

In the past two years, it has become increasingly evident that technology plays a very important role in the museum experience. It allows enthusiasts and admirers to stay connected with the world of history and art, whether physically or virtually.

Technology can help bridge the gap between museums and the younger generation since their lives are constantly influenced by the digital world. Museums can create seamless experiences that imitate ordinary interactions by adapting and enhancing the same tools that the younger generation uses on a regular basis. Along the same lines, technology allows museums to boost audience participation by using gadgets that are already in use.

Holographic table at MAP

Technology also helps museums bring to life their ideas and the creative ways in which they wish to engage the audience. For example, the Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), one of the first private art and photography museums in Bengaluru, collaborated with BrandMusiq to give the brand a distinct sonic identity through its MOGO or ‘musical logo’. MAP’s sonic identity is inspired by the aim to bridge the gap between the past and the present, the classical and the modern, and the conventional and the contemporary.

These tools make art and history more accessible while making the museum more accessible to people with disabilities such as hearing loss, vision impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

MAP’s involvement in the confluence of art and technology makes for a refreshing change. MAP and Accenture Labs collaborated to create India’s first conversational digital persona in M.F. Husain. The viewers can interact with the artists with questions on his early life, career and family. The usage of speech synthesis software and extensive research on the artist makes for an engaging interaction.

Husain’s holographic avatar, as part of MAP’s collaboration with Accenture India

The virality of different kinds of technology and their reception by the masses help museums understand the kind of devices to use and how they can be made increasingly accessible to the audience. Haptic interfaces, iPads, touch screens, and live screenings are a few such tools that engage the audience and help museums reach out to them virtually without losing their interest.

Kalamkari Prayer Mat, 1850s, Cotton, natural dyes,
Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, TXT.0021

In another instance of a technology-focused initiative, MAP Academy, the educational vertical of MAP Bengaluru, collaborated with Microsoft to develop the platform INTERWOVEN as a part of Microsoft’s AI for Cultural Heritage initiative. This project is rooted in developing the digital recreation of the histories of South Asia through textiles, making it more accessible and inclusive for a global audience. Viewers sitting anywhere in the world can find connections between artworks and textiles, cultures and histories through this platform. And that really is the magic of integrating the use of technology in the arts and museums. It allows for a wider and more inclusive reach, as well as a greater participation by young audiences; it allows the museum to become an institution of the future.

Technology can be a great tool for expanding audiences and driving engagement, however it must be used strategically. It’s more about determining what service(s) they are providing, who it will serve, and how the audience will benefit from the experience rather than adopting technology for the sake of incorporating technology.

Guest Post

12 Aug 2021

Colours of the Land

The Fragrance of Rain Inspires Artist Ganesh Doddamani

Inspired by petrichor, artist Ganesh Doddamani presents his recent works, a series of paintings which capture the fragrance and essence of places, at MKF Museum, Bangalore.

Painting by Ganesh Doddamani, Art Scene India

He explains, “Over the past few years or so, my work has naturally and gradually drifted towards abstraction and a distinctive method of compressing the rich color and form of my environment into complex landscape paintings that imbue material reality with a deep sense of place. I combine color making techniques with the vernacular, in a bid to arrive at an idiom that is entirely contemporary.”

Fields of colours reflect patterns and textures of the land. In this exhibition Doddamani waxes eloquent about the smell of rain, the first shower which soaks the earth and has a beautiful and distinctive fragrance. The heady smell that engulfs us when the parched land soaks up the first few drops of rain. The mist encases the landscape forming a veil that is poetic and romanticizes the atmosphere.

"I have been living and working in Bangalore from past 11 years, but my impulse to paint grew naturally out of my childhood. In my landscape concept, the very materials the painting is made of, connects it back to the land, since paint is essentially made from earth, from minerals," he elaborates.

Despite the abstract mode of representation, Doddamani ensures a deep sense of connect to his native land and landscape. The colours and textures are evocative and closely connected to a material reality that is very familiar to the artist.

The Karnataka born artist Ganesh Doddamani showed interest in drawing at an early age, focusing mainly on the figurative form and also on the heritage of India. He later attended art classes while experimenting with colours during that period of time.

Doddamani has completed his BFA with honours from the MMK College of Art, Gulbarga and an MFA from the prestigious Kala Bhavana- Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan. Over the years he has drifted towards abstraction and used a technique to enhance the bright and solid colours on the canvas.

There are 25 paintings in this exhibition and the artist will be donating 50% of the sale proceeds to support artists who have been affected by the pandemic and require financial assistance.

The exhibition continues till 29th Aug at MKF Museum, Lavelle Road, Bangalore.

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6 Feb 2020

Art News: Unframed by Priyanka Sinha

Deconstructing Frameworks In Search Of The Sublime

In her new series of paintings, Priyanka Sinha explores the unknown and the arbitrary, and the elusive and the sublime. Attempting to deconstruct and remove frameworks, her abstract paintings delve deep into the mind in search of that ephemeral time and space, which cannot be categorised but depicts purity of mind and soul.

“Among the practising artists today, Priyanka Sinha stands out for her conviction, consistency and
maturity. Being an abstract painter, the struggle for survival is becoming increasingly difficult in
India. Today, a large number of abstract artists are trying to make success by attaching different kinds of philosophical (sometimes, even spiritual) sounding explanation with their work of art as a means to hide their deficiencies in artistic skills. In such an intensely market-driven world of art, the mediocrity is often hailed for the reasons we all are aware of,” writes artist and critic Ashok Bhowmick in the catalogue.

Being a well-trained artist, Priyanka is an immensely active art practitioner. It is not an urge for experimentation alone that drives her to accept newer challenges, but it is with her courage to create, she often forays into the unexplored zones of her own self to bring out something that makes her existence, meaningful.

Priyanka's recent works show that rare grit for which she is known for. After a considerable gap in time, she is showing her works and although she prefers to contain her expressions in monochrome only, the bundles of carefully etched parallel white lines bring in a refreshing light. Priyanka scratches the thick layers of colour to expose subtle parallel 'spaces' of her canvases, thus creating self-illuminating lines.

Her palette is full of the colours of the nature. In some paintings, she takes the colours from the sea while in some she borrows it from the seasons. With such colours, she composes her abstracts, but for the viewers, they appear as simple landscapes, seascapes and at times, even cityscapes. In her paintings, nothing happens accidentally, as every bit of it is not only planned but deeply meditated.

The artist explains, “In my series named "Unframed" I have tried to present my sentiments in their sublime and pure form. The soul which has all power, and is the eternal core of our being and part of the creator. We look for materialistic happiness and want to be in our comfort zones. We want our life, relations, events, situations to manifest the way we desire. We want everything to happen in a particular manner, in well defined boundaries and frames.”

Unframed, an exhibition of Installations & Paintings by Priyanka Sinha will be on from 8-12th Feb at Fidelitus Gallery, Brigade Software Park, Banashankari 2nd Stage, Bangalore 560070
Mob: 080 680737001 E-mail: info@fidelitusgallery.com

All images are courtesy the artist

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4 Feb 2020

Interplay of Visual Contrasts

Juxtaposed by Vaman Pai and Gomathi Suresh at Gallery Manora

Painting by Vaman Pai

The ongoing exhibition of paintings by Vaman Pai and ceramics by Gomathi Suresh at Gallery Manora, explore abstract imagery through two diverse visual mediums. The show is curated by Giridhar Khasnis, who writes, “Involved in different mediums, they create works that are not fixed on any particular notion or theme but imagery that is free and open to interpretation. Silent yet evocative, their abstract constructs and formations are coloured with introspective tones and designs.”

Vaman is a Bangalore-based painter and sculptor, who is essentially self-taught. G S Shenoy, the late senior artist known for his abstracted landscapes had a large influence on his artistic vocabulary. Vaman has been painting landscapes for several years and in this series, his works display a natural fluidity and eloquence. There is an evident spontaneity in the rendering and an inclination to capture subtle atmospheric nuances. Inspired by nature, and the colour and vastness of the sky, he has employed a predominantly blue and white palette, experimenting adroitly with gentle patterns and textures.

Ceramic by Gomathi Suresh

Gomathi Suresh is a Sydney-based ceramist and art promoter, who has exhibited her works in several group shows and at the Ceramic Art School, Tafe Sydney where she completed her 2-year diploma in ceramic art. She is currently pursuing a 2-year advanced diploma in ceramic art.

In this series, which has been produced in response to Vaman’s paintings, her concern for environment, climate change and ecological sustainability form the underlying subtext. She explains, “My body of work for this exhibition is an immediate and gestural response to the painterly abstraction of Vaman Pai's works whilst maintaining the unique nature of my own making, use of surface treatment and three dimensionalities.” Her works often reference land forms and memories of landscapes from her travels around the world.

Gallery view of Juxtaposed by Vaman Pai and Gomathi Suresh at Gallery Manora

Adopting multiple techniques, ranging from the traditional to the more experimental, Gomathi has played with glazes and firing processes to achieve textures, patterns and compelling visual effects that emphasize colours and surface expanses. She says, “l have ﬁred my works several times to achieve painterly, layered atmospheric depths, closely akin to watercolor effects on textured paper; deliberately exposing the marks of my making, just as a painter would with his brush strokes, creating abstract surfaces evoking perhaps the warmth of a sunrise, the mystery of a dark starry night, the glow of sunsets and or an icy bare landscape.”

The commonalities and contrasts explored in the exhibition form an interesting interplay of visual coherence through pluralities of materials and mediums, and artistic viewpoints.

The exhibition continues till Feb 20, 2020 at Gallery Manora

Gallery Manora

55,100 Ft Road Off,9th A Main, Indiranagar-1st Stage, Bengaluru 560038, INDIA.
www.gallerymanora.com

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All images are courtesy the gallery

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21 Jan 2020

Art News: Juxtaposed by Vaman Pai and Gomathi Suresh

G A L L E R Y M A N O R A

J u x t a p o s e d

V A M A N P A I / G O M A T H I S U R E S H

C U R A T E D B Y G I R I D H A R K H A S N I S

January 23 to February 20, 2020

GALLERY MANORA presents Juxtaposed, a two-person exhibition featuring a series of new paintings by Vaman Pai and recent ceramics by Gomathi Suresh. The show opens on Jan 23 (Thursday) and runs through Feb 20.

Juxtaposed by Gomathi Suresh at Gallery Manora, Art Scene India

For both Vaman and Gomathi, creation of art is intrinsically linked with intuition, imagination as well as life experiences. Involved in different mediums, they create works that are not fixed on any particular notion or theme but imagery that is free and open to interpretation. Silent yet evocative, their abstract constructs and formations are coloured with introspective tones and designs. Their common interest in grasping contrasting and complementary views of nature and human feelings manifest in their work. At a particular level, their works seem like mindscapes searching for an unknown idiom and ineffable beauty.

Vaman’s dynamic work with free flowing forms and multi-coloured smatterings exposes his creative energy, fertile imagination and fearless approach to art making. Connecting the tangible with the abstract, his paintings seem to find life both in the fluctuating moods of vibrant spaces as well as the mysterious layers of darkness.

Gomathi’s ceramics with meandering shapes and gentle curves reveal a slow and studied process along with a personal and poetic handling of the delicate material. For this body of work, she has used organic hand-built and thrown forms in heavily grogged stoneware clay. One can see how by treating the surface of layered underglazes using multiple firing techniques, she has brought in both depth and texture to her intriguing works.

What appears central to both the artists is the natural response to the chosen mediums. There is also a craving to be part of the ‘give-and-take’ interplay of forms, ideas and actions. Most of all, it is interesting to see how the artists have inspired each other even while keeping their practices independent and non-intrusive on each other.

Juxtaposed opens on Jan 23 and runs through Feb 20, 2020 at Gallery Manora