Art Quest

A sculpture commissioned by a leading coffee chain has failed to capture the imagination of Bengalureans

Five men and a boy Photo: Bhagya Prakash K

Name of the art work: Five men and a small boy

Artist: Unknown (commissioned by Café Coffee Day)

Location : Lavelle Road

We see it and yet we don’t, partly because we are lost in the ‘routine’ of our lives and largely because our cities have growing thanks to the pressure of population. But what can stop a creative spirit? Our concrete city gets punctured by these thought-provoking creations in public spaces. In this fortnightly column starting today, we go looking for these colourful oases and bring them to you.

You can contribute too by telling us if you spot anything artsy, quirky and creative in a space that is accessible to all. Write to us at artquest@thehindu.co.in with the exact location and any other details you have and we will feature it in this column.

Five men and a small boy at Tiffany Square

Five men encircle a small boy at Tiffany Square, right outside Café Coffee Day (CCD) on Lavelle Road. If the fountain is on, the stone figurines get drenched.

One is holding an umbrella, the other is carrying a suitcase, the third one is holding a cup of coffee, I presume, and the boy seems to be praying. Ever noticed it? Located on a busy interjection, you can notice it only if you are at the traffic signal or at the café. And even if you are inside the café, what possible engagement you can have with the sculpture, which is at some distance? It is not just its elitist location but also its ambiguity that has kept the citizens indifferent to this work of art. There is no description of the work and the artist. We tried to get the information from the café but all we could gather is that it was commissioned and probably imported. Yes, the figures certainly don’t look Indian! But who made it and what does it symbolize? The day we crack it, we will tell you.