The Whitefield Art Collective: how public art can de-stress, entertain and enlighten
Bengaluru’s Whitefield neighbourhood has emerged as a hub for BPO companies and global R&D units. Traffic snarls are a new addition – but art galleries and exhibitions are a welcome plus, as shown by the Whitefield Art Collective in this photo essay.
PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In this edition, we feature the works of artists from across India at the third annual exhibition of the Whitefield Art Collective.
In the earlier 170 posts, we brought you a wide range of creative photographs from a cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, art gallery, climate change expo, street art festival, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, Vesak, millets fair, and jazz festival.
The Whitefield Art Collective is back with its exciting third edition. The exhibits are displayed at VR Bengaluru, which hosted the earlier editions from 2017 and 2016, and the STARup startup summit. (See also my photo essay on Gallery Sara Arrakal in Whitefield.)
“Come witness the power of public art,” said festival curator Sumi Gupta in a chat with YourStory. Art galleries play an important role in society, but art in public spaces like parks, malls and metro stations bring the creativity to a broader audience.
From students to stars, the exhibition features over 100 works from a wide range of artists. “Public art makes you pause in your busy life and reflect. It can de-stress, entertain or enlighten you,” says Sumi. It also gives emerging artists precious insights into audience reactions.
Featured artists this year include Yati Jaiswal, Mayadhar Sahu, Shobin Bhattacharjee, Mukesh Singh, Kanwal Pal and Shubham Agarwal, along with student artists from MSU Baroda, Delhi College of Art, JJ School of Art in Mumbai, Chandigarh College of Architecture, and Government College of Arts, Chandigarh.
The launch of the exhibition also featured panel discussions on art in India with speakers such as Krishnamachari Bose (President, Kochi Biennale), Nalini Malaviya (art curator) and Veer Munshi (contemporary artist). See Part II of this essay for insights from these experts and photos of more exhibits.
The 2018 exhibition is part of a roadshow covering Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Surat and Chennai. “Commercial spaces also have a duty to become cultural spaces,” Sumi signs off.
Now what have you done lately to explore or test your creative side?
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See also the YourStory pocketbook ‘Proverbs and Quotes for Entrepreneurs: A World of Inspiration for Startups,’ accessible as apps for Apple and Android devices.