When there is talk about a burgeoning Bengaluru, we often think of IT companies expanding their prospects here.
But in the noise and clamour of industrial development, a growing art community is leading to the establishment of multi-cultural spaces, which are emerging in pockets in the city. MetroPlus does a tour of three of these spaces.
The Arts Village
St. Mark’s Road
The next time you cross St. Mark’s Road to get to Shivajinagar or Central Bengaluru, turn your gaze towards Metro Ford, and look out for the signboard with ‘The Arts Village’ written on it.
There is no doubt art and culture lovers will find it aesthetic and appealing. It is the old Bangalorean, though, who longs for sights Bangalore of yore, for whom this is a must visit place.
Three beautifully-restored colonial bungalows house art, yoga and dance spaces. Lakshmi Vijayendra, the founder, shows us through the place, and points out the three spaces: Kala, Surya and Raaga.
Kala is an art gallery, where they had their first show on Women’s Day. Summer workshops are held regularly at Arts Village.
When we entered Surya, we saw children engaged in crafting ceramic and glass pieces. Raaga has two studios, a space for yoga, dance or zumba, a small café with a stunning painting of a tree silhouette against a bright yellow background.
One room, Lakshmi says, is open to those who are looking for a space to launch their art work. A certain calm envelopes the space, which is amazing given that it is located in one of the busiest centres in the city. Lakshmi says that the space is open to artists, storytellers, dancers, yoga enthusiasts, in fact every kind of arts practitioner, but she points out: “We want to host quality events.”
Shoonya Centre for Art and Somatic Practices
Lalbagh Road
This art and performance space, started in memory of Joseph Ollapally, has over the years been sought after for its quality performances, both in dance and alternative practices. Located on fourth floor, rear wing, Brahmananda Court, Shoonya is an expansive space with polished wooden floors. There is also a lounge area and a smaller studio, which is actually a large space, where smaller sessions are held. Thommen Ollapally, director of Shoonya, says that it has primarily been through word of mouth that the space has come to be known. “As for the larger objective, we are still in the early stages of the journey. There is plenty more we hope to do with the space and the artistes community. The growth of Shoonya has been an organic process so far. We are somewhat new to the art world, and the art world is new to us.” Thoomen stresses they ensure that the space will be sustained through deeper connections and pure intentions. "We want to make it financially sustainable by itself. We have different kind of corporate training programmes, in which people can express themselves freely in a non-judegmental space. We also have a dance collective that we will have a couple of shows."
Lshva
Koramangala
Located in Koramangala, third block, LshVa is a performance space,. Artistic director Rukmini Vijayakumar says “As far as education is concerned, we want to work with what we know, so we primarily teach dance. Bharatanatya and contemporary dance. We have workshops and activities in all areas. Concentrating on theatre and dance, the space expands to have informal performances, community engagement activities, summer camps, fitness retreats, lectures, movie screenings, performances and many other activities that involve both professionals and the community at large.”
The space has two studios with a fully-sprung floor and mirrors. “It has a library area used for reading and research and a half open terrace area that has a pantry and a space to sit outside,” says Rukmini.
As to why she started it, Rukmini says: “I’ve been thinking of a collaborative space for artists for many years now.
“I had concepts, thoughts and ideas on how to make a space that would support art, inspire art and create artists from the community that had an inclination to art. I also felt that we needed a space for research, growth and collaboration that facilitated the meeting of artists and created opportunities to create inspired work. LshVa I feel was the answer to many of these things.”
While a few architect friends helped with the technicalities, Rukmini says she took personal care to decide and choose furniture and design and fabric for interiors. LshVA has more to offer to dance and theatre practitioners, but Rukmini says, she is “open to involve with any kind of performer.”
