It will be a 10-day celebration of creativity and culture at Art Bengaluru 2016, which kickstarts today celebrating the world with the spirit of India.
Besides artworks by eminent national and international artistes, the festival that will be on till August 28 and will feature interesting art and photography workshops, light painting, cocktail mixing, tea appreciation, exhibitions, gigs, performances, workshops, talks, debates, discussions and more. What’s different this year, you ask? Well, if you’re a movie buff, then you can watch English, Spanish and Italian movies at the open air amphitheatre from August 23 to 25.
The art soiree that will open with Karsh Kale Collective on Friday will see Wolfpack perform live on Saturday and Sivamani Siraha Trio will close the event on August 28.
There will be 150 artworks by 30 artists on display. Three distinctive colours are a striking part of Sharad Haksar’s artworks at this annual art extravaganza.
A Cannes Silver Lion winner and the only Asian to snag a Gold, Silver, 2 Bronzes and 21 honourable mentions at the IPA awards, Sharad shares of his collection, “I’m bringing a series of images of Japan shot during autumn and spring and Iceland during winter. I was always fascinated by cherry blossoms as they blossom only for 10 days in a year. I was so fascinated that I went back in autumn and all the leaves were red and magical. I made a road trip across Iceland to shoot Northern lights during winters."
Confessing that he might not easily “fit” into the Indian idea of what art ought to be, constructivist Henk Van Putten is aware that his constructivism is a way of thinking which finds its roots in Russia.
Talking about what he’s bringing to Bengaluru, Henk adds, “I’m showcasing a selection of rather different materials — older pieces and works made in metal, wood and stone. I’m presenting scale models. Every example is meant to be made much bigger, rather of monumental size. Some of my experimental pieces include sculptures in granite, transformed in transparent wire, that are my soul-pieces. I’m constructing simple geometrical shapes in interesting structures and avoiding baroque movements. I believe that bringing together styles and art movements will result in developing a richer art climate overall.”
It is a great networking platform for meeting artists in the art world. Abhishek Naidu, curator and project manager, commissioning, Sublime Galleria adds, “The festival will have an abstract painting corridor, a figurative painting corridor and an extensive photography collection. Trained art guides will host curated walks for the visitors to give them an in-depth and holistic understanding of artworks on display. MF Husain’s portrait of MS as Subbulakshmi was affectionately known, as the centerpiece of Navrathan’s display.”
Talking of the highlights of Art Bengaluru, Uzma Irfan, conceptualiser and organiser, Art Bengaluru, states, “The global exchange of art and culture will have participation by eight international artistes from France, China, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Israel and Peru.”
