Showing posts with label art festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art festival. Show all posts

1 Dec 2022

Art News: India Art Festival in Bangalore

India Art Festival attracts over 30 galleries and 400 artists for its second edition in the city



The 2nd Edition of India Art Festival (IAF) in the city starting from December 08 – 11 at the Palace Ground, Kings Court, Gate No. 5, Bellary Road, has grown in scale and size this year, bringing cutting-edge contemporary art to the city, presented by over 30 Art Galleries and 400 artists, coming from 40 different cities across India, Singapore and USA.

Opening on December 08, the 2nd Bengaluru edition of IAF will bring all forms of artistic expressions in the art fair including painting, sculptures, photography, ceramics, installations, offering insights into current art trends in India and Asian diaspora.

India Art Festival, Bangalore, Image for Art Scene India
Aditiraje Bhonsle

Founded in 2011 by the publishers of Indian Contemporary Art Journal, IAF is the only art fair held annually in three metro cities and which has mounted 22 editions so far at Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru.

Whether, it is a seasoned art collector, or a new art buyer who want to acquire the first piece of art, the India Art Festival with 4000 pieces of art across 100 booths, on display at the Palace Ground is a perfect place to fall in love with art. At IAF, the art collectors are spoilt for choices to choose from many mediums and styles - oil paintings, acrylics, water colour, original prints, installations, drawings in myriad styles dealing with varied subjects including landscapes, figurative, abstracts, cityscapes, seascapes, urban and rural scenarios, portraits, nudes, semi-nudes, religious art, traditional paintings, murals, warli art and many more.


The master artists displayed by the galleries include Sakti Burman, Yusuf Arakkal, Lalu Prasad Shaw, S G Vasudev, Laxman Aelay, Gurudas Shenoy, Laxma Goud, Jatin Das, Jogen Chowdhury, Manu Parekh, N S Harsha, P Gnana, Seema Kohli and many others.

India Art Festival, Bangalore, Image for Art Scene India
Yusuf Arakkal

The Artists’ Pavilion with individual booths by independent artists is so designed as to create a dialogue between the viewers and the art maker, and the artist. It also encourages dialogue between the art market and the artists directly. Here the sale and purchase of the artwork is on an open platform and the buyer or collector can approach an artist and the choices are numerous.

India Art Festival, Bangalore, Image for Art Scene India
Vinita Dasgupta
This kind of freedom is rarely possible as both the artist and the buyers benefit from this arrangement. India Art Festival Director Rajendra says, "the process of democratizing ‘art viewing and buying’ initiated twelve years ago in Mumbai sort of became a movement; the growing interest in Indian contemporary art slowly made this movement spread to New Delhi and Bengaluru covering significant length and breaths of our country."

Apart from 200 established artists exhibited by art galleries, more than 200 independent artists are displaying in the ‘Artists’ pavilion’ at the art festival. The subjects broached by the artists vary from personal experiences to intense narratives.

India Art Festival, Bangalore, Image for Art Scene India
Dhyana Das
 'Tripurasundari’, a feminine mystique of the goddess by artist Dhyana Das and Kalyani Ravishankar’s ‘Radha-Krishna’, both blend the nuances of classical paintings and contextualize them within Indian religious sensibilities. 

In another instance, artist Karthik Kamath, Sonali Surana and Tejaswi depicts embodiment of renunciation, Buddha, the enlightened one in his splendid aura with wavy hair curls & the monastic robe covering both shoulders and arranged in heavy classical folds. 

Sunitha Krishna, Smita BP, Kalyani Sinha and Tripti Pandey indulge in an artistic imagery using religious images, cultural symbols and motifs that touches the spiritual chord of the viewers.

Artists Gaurav Dagar, Jyothi Prakash and Prakash Bal Joshi beguile the viewers with their abstract composition using pure forms & colours, whereas artist Muthukrishnan Ramalingam and Rajitha Bonthala chose the middle path of semi-abstract idiom to present their visual stories.

Wildlife, animal and bird paintings is one of the oldest art forms found since ancient times in the cave art. Animal and bird art have come a long way since then in technique and imagination and occupies major part of the contemporary art space in India. Artist Isha Valentine’s symbolic deer with antlers, Priyanka Sehgal’s Sunbird, big cats and elephant by artist Apurba Das, Shakila Ananth and Sudha Anandampillai displayed in the art festival is a fusion of art elements found in Bundi style of traditional art with contemporary times.

India Art Festival, Bangalore, Image for Art Scene India
Akshata Shetty

The black and white paintings displayed in the art festival by Akshata Shetty, Beena Surana, Om Thadkar, Preeti Baliga, and Priyanka Maurya prove that the paintings need not have to be always done in striking colours to create visual splendour! Viewers are bound to be mesmerize by the unfolding visual drama of muted blacks, ash greys, dark flashes, starry whites with harsh shadows employed in the work of Om Tadkar in his galloping white stallion, whereas Priyanka Mauraya’s dreamy flowery land and symbolic portraits of all sorts by Akshata Shetty and Preeti Baliga creates powerful viewing; these paintings can go with entire range of minimalist modern décor & interior to create aesthetic ambience around living spaces. 


Since ancient times to modern times, from fertility goddess to modern-day multitasker, artists have always enjoyed exploring the subject matter of women folk in art. But when the subject is explored by female artists herself, it assumes different significance like artist Geeta Yerra, Parul Sharma and Swati Burde who are exhibiting in the art festival. 

India Art Festival, Bangalore, Image for Art Scene India
P Gnana
The figurative works by Ravi Verma and Vanita Gupta along with Atul Todi and Jayaram Krishna’s figures emerging through geometric patterns on closer look is an added in attraction for viewers. 

The notion of beautiful and sublime with sharp contrasts of light and shadow is exemplified in the landscapes by Poornima Deepak and Reema Ravindran whereas Deepshikha Bishoyi, Mridul Garg, Pooja Muthuraj, Shankari Kundu, T V Sairam and Vidhu Pillai prefers suggestive style of abstract landscape which focuses more on expressing emotion while still capturing the essence of a landscape. Seena Mani’s cityscape, Aditiraje Bhonsle, and Kasturi Dutta’s flowerscape are different genre in landscape painting in the art festival that would leave a lasting impression on the viewers. 

Among several others noticeable works by master artists, the artists pavilion present a fresh face of India Art Festival at the Garden city. India Art Festival, with mammoth art collection of all sorts of art under one roof is a one stop mega art jamboree for art enthusiasts in this week to enjoy art without getting tired in hopping around art paces in city!

The participating art galleries include Akanksha Art Gallery, Charvi Art Gallery, Green Footprint
India Art Festival, Bangalore, Image for Art Scene India
Laxman Aelay
Art Gallery, H Art Gallery, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Sara Arakkal Gallerie (all Bengaluru), ArtDesh Foundation, Artvista, House of Emerge, Nitya Artists Center, Studio Pankaj Bawdekar, Studio Rustgrey, Studio3 Art Gallery, The Bombay Art Society, thecurators.art (Mumbai) , ArteHut, Eminent Art Gallery, Gallery Pioneer, Nifa Art Gallery, Gallery Vision Art (New Delhi), Pastel Tale & Uchaan (Gurgaon), Gnani Arts (Singapore), Kalabhawan (Agartala), M Narayan Studio (Pune), Pichwai by Beyond Square (Udaipur) and Subodh Fine Art Studio (California, USA) among others.


India Art Festival will be on from 08 to 11 Dec 2022 at Kings Court, Palace Ground, Gate No.5, Bellary Road, Near Mekhri Circle, Bengaluru from 11 am- 8.30pm on all days.


For further details contact: 9820737692



Excerpted from the press release


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5 Nov 2019

Art Bengaluru 2019 – Festival of Contemporary Art

Art Bengaluru 2019 - Ongoing at UB City

Art Bengaluru 2019 returns in its 9th edition and brings together 21 reputed artists from across the world including USA, Netherlands, France and Saudi Arabia with almost 200 works of art. Spread across various floors in the mall, the art has integrated beautifully with the interior design and architectural elements. The works encompass a range of styles, genres and media - paintings, hand-blown glass sculpture, installations, video projects, 3D printed sculpture, photography, mixed media and digital art are currently on display throughout The Collection, UB City.

The launch of the almost month long festival on 2nd November was a spectacular affair with a scintillating musical performance by the Bangalore City Chamber Orchestra.
MajesticForest - Daan Oude Elferink (Netherlands) Art Bengaluru 2019
Majestic Forest - Daan Oude Elferink (Netherlands) Art Bengaluru 2019 


The curatorial premise extends its range from the previous year and focuses on storytelling and figuration primarily, at the same time it attempts to draw narratives from across the country as well as internationally. It plays with scale and space to enhance the viewing experience.

The ground floor comes alive with dramatic works by the well known Dutch photographer Daan Oude Elferink, which capture the glory of abandoned and long forgotten places. Buildings, relics and deserted industrial facilities narrate poignant stories of life gone by.
Title-MANTODEA_PRAYINGMANTIS-Size-137_cm_X_137_cm_X_9_cm - Haribabu Natesan
MANTODEA PRAYINGMANTIS by Haribabu Natesan
On another floor, Haribaabu Naatesan’s large format mixed media works made out of industrial waste and scrap are a comment on consumerism and urbanization. He elaborates, “I want my artworks to provoke people to think about the materials they consume; when they discard a cycle or computer, when they re-decorate their homes, they must be aware of how much junk they are creating.”

Masked_Reality_Interactive -  By artificial intelligence (A.I) and new media artist, Harshit Aggarwal
Masked_Reality  By Harshit Aggarwal
In the IT capital of the country, technology, artificial intelligence and data science and its application predominates and art created utilizing these concpets will intrigue the viewer. New media artist Harshit Agrawal explores the ‘human-machine creativity continuum’- the melding of human and machine creative agency. He uses machines and algorithms and often creates them as an essential part of his art process. He often juxtaposes traditional art media and tools along with machines and computation, creating a space to both direct, and be guided by the machine.
2018-BetweentheRealities- R M Palaniappa (02)
Between the Realities  R M Palaniappa

Do not miss senior artist R M Palaniappan’s exhibition at Sublime Galleria on the 8th floor, which features his collection of works that explore the line, its movement and spatial connotations. The notion of time and space, the experience of space and the materiality of the universe map imaginary trajectories of physical and psychological terrains. His interest in art, science and psychology meld effortlessly.
Watch out for art by the Bangalore based Pradeep Kumar D M, R Rekha Krishnamurthy and Venugopala H S. Also for works by Anil Ijeri, Anni Kumari, Chandrahas Y Jalihal, Hariram V Harsh Nowlakha, Sruthi S Kumar and Vijit Pillai. The other international artists include Afra Khan, Jordan Sitzer and Pierre Poulain.

Untitled - Pradeep Kumar D M
Untitled - Pradeep Kumar D M

Speaking about the evolution of Art Bengaluru, Ms. Uzma Irfan – Founder -Sublime Galleria & Director - Prestige Group explains, “Nine years ago, we had conceptualised Art Bengaluru as a dedicated festival for the arts. Ever since, it has been a trailblazer event, a celebration of art, culture and luxury, on par with the finest art shows across the globe. Our constant effort has been to put Bengaluru on the map of the international art world, and give India’s rich and diverse culture the global platform it deserves.”

Abhishek Naidu, Curator of Art Bengaluru elaborates, “A new generation of collectors are on the rise who are looking at platforms like Art Bengaluru to engage with some of the best emerging and established artists from India and beyond. Over the last decade, Art Bengaluru has played a pivotal role in forging spirited bonds between artists, galleries, art collectors and art enthusiasts, not only across India, but also in New York, Beijing, Paris, Amsterdam and other international locations. With Art Bengaluru 2019, we wish to further strengthen these bonds and boost the outlook for the Indian art market.”

There is a BIT of you in some BIT of me Acrylic on canvas 5X4 feet2018 - Anni Kumari
There is a BIT of you in some BIT of me byAnni Kumari

Incidentally, the festival will also feature over a dozen talks, workshops, curated walks and other art experiences, including a feature Film Bengaluru – an International Film Festival organized in partnership with the UNESCO MGIEP focusing on the theme, 'Kindness Matters' from 14 – 17 November 2019.

Upcoming is also a workshop organized by OnePlus for smartphone users which will be conducted by the well known artist, Pallon Daruwala, who will show people how to take great photographs on their smartphones. The workshop will take place on Saturday - 23 November 2019 from 10am – 1pm.


Art Bengaluru at UB City, Vittal Mallya Road, 11am onwards is on till November 30.

More details on Art Bengaluru 2019 here http://www.artbengaluru.in/

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2 Nov 2018

Art News: Recounting Memories by Gurudas Shenoy in Bangalore

Recounting Memories by Gurudas Shenoy 
at Sublime Art Galleria in Bangalore

Recounting Memories by Gurudas Shenoy at Sublime Art Galleria in Bangalore, Art Bengaluru 2018 at UB City



Recounting Memories by Gurudas Shenoy at Sublime Art Galleria in Bangalore, Art Bengaluru 2018 at UB City

Gurudas Shenoy’s urban spaces recount narratives constructed around places, their architecture and history to form visual chronicles. The irregular façades of structural forms conceal stories of life and living. An array of emotions, personal and collective sagas and memories lie embedded within the walls of settlements. Archives of human existence entrenched in every brick and piece of glass, the inanimate captures the living breath within its folds.


The evolution of the current series of cityscapes can be traced to his travels across India and Europe. A significant point in his artistic journey, the European visual and cultural environment opened up entirely new vistas for him. It triggered rigorous experimentations on canvas, and an expansiveness in his imagination and thought, resulting in a fresh vocabulary. Paris, Amsterdam and Prague amongst other cities, contributed to a refined aesthetic in terms of colours, lines, form, light and textures, leading him to explore the city in its vitality, sheer energy and its resplendence. His fascination with buildings, old and new, their historicity, and their silent role as witnesses to time and its transformation, their inhabitants and their lives with all its variations, became a muse.
Recounting Memories by Gurudas Shenoy at Sublime Art Galleria in Bangalore, Art Bengaluru 2018 at UB City
Apart from the cityscapes, Shenoy’s newer works occupy a transitory space, where the structures from an urban skyline gently dissolve their linearity and are suggestive of memories of land and the surrounding environment. Undulating terrains, open skies and hints of topographical details speckle the surface and the works become calmer and unencumbered in their exploration. Perhaps, meditative too, reflecting Shenoy’s state of mind and a personal sense of serenity that he now embraces. The experimentations with colours and textures intensify, and he continues to gravitate further towards abstraction. He revisits landscapes - from places he has travelled to, and represents them as snapshots in time and space. The colours are vivid with strong and often dramatic brushstrokes that capture the essence of the memory – of land, its contours and colours, the play of light and the prevalent mood. 

Nalini S Malaviya

Art Critic, Bangalore

Excerpt from the catalog essay Recounting Memories

All images are courtesy the artist

Recounting Memories by Gurudas Shenoy at Sublime Art Galleria in Bangalore previews on 2nd Nov and continues till 28th Nov, 2018. 


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    31 Oct 2018

    Art News: ‘Art Bengaluru’ is back with its 8th Edition


    ‘Art Bengaluru 2018'– Bengaluru’s popular Art Festival is back with its 8th Edition

    At UB City from 02 – 18 November 2018
    The City of Protagonists - Saju Kunhan at Art Bengaluru 2018 at UB City, Bangalore, image courtesy prestige constructions
    The City of Protagonists by Saju Kunhan at Art Bengaluru 2018 at UB City, Bangalore, 
    Image courtesy Prestige Constructions
    The media preview today of Art Bengaluru’ offered glimpses into a well curated art exhibition, which brings together 17 Indian artists across 24 exhibits. With its inception in 2011, ‘Art Bengaluru’, the city’s first 10-day art festival was launched with the aim of celebrating art in its various forms. The idea behind it was to bring a multitude of artists and artforms from across India and the world under one roof, thus promoting art awareness as well as a deeper understanding of the arts. The 2014 edition featured artist Liu Bolin from China, popularly known as the 'The Invisible Man', and during the inaugural evening of Art Bengaluru, he performed and ‘disappeared’ into a bookshelf, even as the people watched (read about it here).

    Over the years, the art festival has grown from strength to strength and has gravitated towards more serious art and artists. The exhibition this year includes artists Balan Nambiar, Gurudas Shenoy, Kavita Jaiswal, Vipta Kapadia, Parvathi Nayar, Pallon Daruwala, Romicon Revola & Saju Kunhan amongst others.
    Painting by Gurudas Shenoy at Art Bengaluru 2018 at UB City, Bangalore, image courtesy prestige constructions
    Painting by Gurudas Shenoy at Art Bengaluru 2018 at UB City, Bangalore, Image courtesy Prestige Constructions

    Large stainless steel sculptures by Balan Nambiar at the entrance create a striking visual. The rest of the exhibits are distributed across  floors, Gurudas Shenoy's paintings are on display on the ground floor and at Sublime Galleria. Overall, the display is cohesive and  follows distinct narratives on each floor - abstracts around natural and urban landscapes, ephemeral abstractions, architectural renderings in the form of assemblages, digital recreations of mid-nineteenth century  postcards and photographs that re-orient perspectives are some of the works that you should watch out for.

    The art festival offers a great opportunity to visitors and shoppers to engage with art in a public space, and for its entire duration, anyone can walk into the premises and view  a diverse spectrum of mediums and styles, displayed with museum-class display infrastructure under one roof. 

    According to Uzma Irfan, Conceptualizer / Organiser, Art Bengaluru & Director, Prestige Group, "The language of art, as expressed through sounds, colours, shapes, lines, and images, speaks in ways that words cannot. Whether you experience the arts as a creator / artist or as an art lover, you can gain great pleasure and enjoyment from all kinds of art.”
    Ganesh Selvaraj - Doing the same expecting difference at Art Bengaluru 2018 at UB City, Bangalore, image courtesy prestige constructions
    With curated art walks, the festival also aims to contribute to art education among both children and adults. Art Bengaluru 2018 has partnered with several schools (Parikrma Centre of Learning, Srishti Institute of Art, Design & Technology and Dr. Beltran’s Animation School, to name a few) to take their students through curated walks to help them better understand and appreciate the arts.  Abhishek Naidu, Curator, Art Bengaluru 2018 offers, “Art Bengaluru’s aim has always been to aid in the Bangalorean front of that fight by bringing a selection of works from a diverse set of artists to UB City, thus bringing a much-needed injection of art to the city, along with a wonderfully disarming onslaught of emotion, insight, perspective and reflection that is unique to an enriching art experience.”

    Art Bengaluru 2018 will start on 2nd Nov with an evening that will also include musical performances by Aman Mahajan (Pianist), Nush Lewis (Harpist), Raman Iyer (Saxophonist), and The Flying Drummers.

    Edit: Updated 02 – 18 November 2018

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