Art going places

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A walk along the swanky malls, spacious airports or neo-modern hotel lobbies reveals a subtle shift. Art installations are making their presence felt amidst the throngs that crowd these spaces.

Artist R.B. Bhaskaran points out that this trend has been around internationally for quite a while. “It is an influence of different countries — malls in Asia, US and Europe already have art installations. And in India, it is a relatively new trend to break the monotony of these public spaces. Art enlivens any space with colour and the nation is also looking at different aspects of art forms,” says this artist who was elected as the Chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi in 2004.
Contemporary artist Parvathi Nayar is excited. “It is a part of the growing art and cultural economy. People are traveling more. The logical next step is that you would look to the artists of your country and what they are expressing and showcasing in these spaces,” she explains.
Delhi-based photographer and artist Anay Mann concurs. “Art is a part of everyone’s lives. It does not exist in isolation. In fact, it represents and is born out of society. People may not have exclusive time to indulge in art appreciation, especially if it’s relegated to museums and galleries alone. If people are not coming to art, then we should take art to the people, make it accessible and exciting to them. In the past too, we have had sculptures at round-abouts and at public squares. People, these days, pass by them. Malls, hotels, airports have become the new public squares where people have some time to look around, and these are the very places where public art needs to be, and in some cases, is being put out. Indian society is in the midst of an evolution and the changes in the way art is perceived is a reflection of the same,” he articulates.
For artist Shailesh B.O., public art has always been an integral part of our history. “This is the best way to get the public to understand art. For many a time, people get stuck in a rut. They can only understand MF Hussain’s paintings or Raja Ravi Varma’s art. People come up to me and say they don’t understand my paintings. The public needs to be educated in order to understand and explore various kinds of art. And, public spaces are a good place to start,” he mentions.
However, Bhaskaran, who was one of the jurors at the 5th Florence Biennale, believes that there is a need for clear direction from here. “In Athens and Italy, large sculptures on top of buildings have become local landmarks. Public art in India has to evolve and it has to be done in a way where it lasts longer,” he says, in conclusion.