Bengaluru: For artist S.G. Vasudev art is not something that is meant to grace the halls of an art gallery, but should be as much a community activity as any other.
Keeping this in mind he conceptualized Art Park Bengaluru, a monthly meet up at Ravindra Kalashektra that brings together artists from in and around the city to paint and talk to the community about their creative expressions.
The first Sunday of every month the Sculpture Garden on the Ravindra Kalashetra premises is busily dotted with artists engrossed in their work.
Once approached however, they are more than happy to explain their art. “That is precisely the point of such a gathering!” exclaimed Vasudev, at the July gathering held this Sunday.
“At an art gallery, there is a certain apprehension when people know who the artist is. At an open space like this the formalities don’t come in between. Bridging the gap between the artist and the community is very important,” he said. Artist Shubha C Raghu, a first time participant, specializes in acrylic on canvas. Her paintings have a unique Tibetan flavour. She calls them a representation of her roots. She is one of the 30 artists who came to the July gathering.
“I am a south Indian in love with Tibetan culture,” she said and laughs, “and had it not been for art, I could never put them together. Had it not been for Art Park, no one would ask about these gods dressed in Tibetan costumes,” she said working on a piece. Started three years ago, Art Park’s first edition was held at Town Hall but as the fans grew and it was moved permanently to the Sculpture Garden. Art lovers can buy these freshly painted pieces at subsidized rates or just come and have a conversation with its creators. Almost all the artwork is done only on A4 sheets, and is sold for not more than Rs 1,000 a piece. From cartoons, works in charcoal, acrylic, water colour and abstract art this gathering has a heartwarming variety for a connoisseur to choose from. Vasudev now plans to take it a step further. In a few months, Art Park may just come to your locality. “We want to take it out of Sculpture Garden. Every third Sunday, maybe we could do it at different parts of the city, at venues like Jagriti at
Whitefield, Ranga Shankara and the likes. It would make it all the more accessible,” he said.
