Ever gazed upon art that spoke to you and wanted to go behind the scenes into how the artiset creates it, a world often shrouded in mystery? CurlyStreet Media, a Bengaluru-based creative film production company founded by Pavitra Chalam is unboxing a web series about Bengaluru artists called #Unframed. Featuring city-based art heroes like Ullas Hydoor, Kaveri Gopalakrishnan, Ursala Chowdhury, Shashank Surya and Nithin Sadhu, the show that’s already going viral delves into the inspiring world of non-conformist artists who find meaning where most see chaos.
The short, non-fiction series explores the unique aspects of not just these city folk’s art, but their methods and psyche as well. “As the name suggests, #Unframed is not just about the kind of art that is found in museums and galleries but the kind that calls out to us from the most unexpected places.
It is a salute to those who take risks with art, ideas and life,” says Ananya Roy, the writer and producer of the series. While we introduce the show, these self-taught artists from the city don’t – Nithin Sadhu, a maverick in whose hands the humble Scotch Tape is transformed into high art and Kaveri Gopalakrishnan, the independent comic-book creator with a penchant for the quirky. Architect Ullas Hydoor aka The Bearded Wizard who cleans up the city’s walls and leaves it colourful with his art, Shashank Surya or Motorcycle Monet who airbrushes colours on to bikes and Ursula Chowdhury, the Yarn Spinner, a German doll maker. Needless to say, they don’t colour within the lines.
What this subject? “Not just because it’s our home but because these artists represent a different set of voices from this city. They reflect a part of its spirit that is not often captured but has the power to inspire and move,” says the team behind the videos.
The webseries’ purpose? To artfully inspire, of course. “Several people in the city might have passed by someone’s work not knowing whose it is. This puts the artist on a platform and gives them a chance to not just create it, but explain it too,” says Ullas Hydoor who features in one of the episodes. “It made me understand my own process better, for instance,” he tells us. “We hope that the spirit and honesty of these artists will inspire audiences. We believe these stories will ignite a sense of wonder at the unexpected forms of beauty around us and remind us that true artistic expression knows no bounds,” says Pavithra Chalam, the founder of the production company behind these videos, in conclusion.
