In a first, Madras Art Weekend, a curated three-day event for the arts, celebrates Chennai’s visual arts culture through exhibitions, panel discussions and a workshop.
In a first, Madras Art Weekend, a curated three-day event for the arts, celebrates Chennai’s visual arts culture through exhibitions, panel discussions and a workshop.
Madras is not alien to art. While one traditionally associates the city’s sensibilities with classical performing arts, the role it plays in the country’s visual arts culture is fundamental – whether it is the legacy of the Madras art movement, the Cholamandal Artists Village, or the influential Government College of Fine Arts. Are.
But in the art world and in the market, a movement suitable for city status among the community has not yet been realized.
The first edition of Madras Art Weekend (MAW), by the city-based The International Foundation for the Arts, hopes to start this conversation.
With curated walkthroughs, exhibitions, panel discussions and a workshop, Madras Art Weekend hopes to create a healthy ecosystem for the art fraternity: whether it is through the display of the works of Madras Masters or one on the intersection of art and design. be through panel discussion.
An artwork by Suresh Kumar will be on display. photo credit: special arrangement
It’s been at least two years since this weekend. Two years that took people to get on board, go to cities for other such weekends and get different ideas and perspectives.
“I feel that our artists do not get representation across the board, especially in other cities and even in India art fairs,” says Upasana.
While cities like Mumbai are familiar with gallery weekends and art walks, Chennai is still new to the idea. “We didn’t want to specifically call it gallery weekend,” says Upasana. It’s more of an art weekend with a conversation with art. We wanted to be more general towards the arts and artists in the city.
A picture of Ami Gupta will be on display. photo credit: Ami Gupta
The event begins with a group show called Perspectives at Gallery Veda. It features artists from emerging and established cities curated by Worship and Prabhu.
“It’s called Perspective because we didn’t want them to get stuck in a style that is not their own. The show will shed light on the original creative expression of artists, be it surrealism, abstraction or portraiture,” she adds Gurunathan Govindan, Parvati Nair, Yuvraj Velu, Amar Ramesh, Narayan Laxman, Madhavi Raj are some of the artists who will showcase their work through various mediums.The same day, a walkthrough at Crowne Plaza curated by Sarala’s Art Center of Madras Masters Will open the door to understand the works of.
Architectural Digest India editor Komal Sharma, interior designer Vinita Chaitanya and Bobo Calcutta’s multidisciplinary artist Ayushmann Mitra will see an interesting panel chaired by Kamna Malik, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Cultural Attaché and Design Curator. The intersection of art in the world of design.
“The next day, in a collaborative event with the Kindness Foundation, we will showcase ‘Daya’ through a lens-based medium. And, in a parallel event at Neelam, unveil Ayushmann Mitra’s collection and art as well as installations Will be done,” says Upasana.
“After the evening, a panel discussion at Ashvita’s gallery will address the galleries and the programming of the artists they represent. Bhavna Kakkar from Delhi-based Latitude 28, Atyan Jangalwala from Chemold Prescott Bombay and Sanjay Kumar from Sakshi Art Gallery are coming as part of the panel.
An artwork by Vijayalakshmi Veerappan will be on display. photo credit: special arrangement
On the third day, a panel consisting of collector and artist Veer Kotak, art activist and founder of Mumbai-based Misal, Rubal Nagi, collector and patron of the Madras Art Movement, Sanjay Tulsyan and collectors Jaiveer Johal and Mithun Sancheti will discuss. The collaborative potential of collectors and the role of public community art.
“Rubal Negi has adopted 3,500 slums across India and changed the faces of these slums through murals. She will unveil her book titled slum queen In session,” says the curator. An exhibition celebrating the brilliance of glass by artists from across the country will be hosted by the Inco Center, titled Tempered-Poetry in Glass. There will be an artist’s workshop in the center (worth ₹ 2000) from 5 pm to 5 pm.
An artwork by Narayan Laxman will be on display. photo credit: special arrangement
Upasana says, the programming was done in such a way that young artistes are given representation and a worthy platform. Even during the ideation phase, the interest shown by the city’s galleries, cultural centers and consulates has been immense. “The whole city has opened its doors for us. Madras Art Weekend is truly owned by the people of Madras,” she concluded.
MAW is from November 11 to November 13. for more information call 9952024400.