“Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.”-Oscar Wilde
The first ever five days National Art Fair- ‘Namma Art Bengaluru: Vishva Kala Sangama’ was organized by Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath from 28th May-1 st June, 2025 in Bangalore. Events like this are not just about coexistence but about dynamic exchange and discourse that augment vision, creativity, appreciation and understanding. It brought together 100 talented artists from over 30 major cities across India and 20 invited artists from Karnataka and one from UAE.
The participation of artists from diverse regions and styles transformed the Art Fair into a pulsating platform where varied expressions could be comprehended and appreciated. It fostered inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that talent and vision were celebrated beyond boundaries of background, identity, or origin. This comprehensive approach transmutes the space into meaningful association and social change, by providing artists with resources, visibility, and opportunities. Art thrives through openness and the celebration of both dissimilarities and
cohesions. Among the artworks displayed, one witnessed how Jayanth Hubli with rich depth and dramatic contrasts, captures the raw essence of human emotion through bold strokes and delicate shading in his charcoal drawings; SA Vimalanathan’s chromatic maps echoing disintegration,
complexity and tempo of city life, by escalating psychosomatic and architectural landscapes of urbanisation; still moments and lush landscapes become a part of paintings and fibre pots of Ganesh Doddamani; meticulous details in the hyper realistic paintings by KC Mahadeva Shetty; and creative approach in Indian traditional paintings by Kamal Ahmed. Kariyappa Hanchinamani celebrates rich cultural tapestry of rural India through his bold brush and knife strokes; Pa Sa Kumar reconnoitres themes oscillating from personal contemplation to societal annotations.
Observing how artists merge traditional features with contemporary terminologies – constantly evolving and entwining rather than remaining stagnant was very intriguing. It emphasized the importance of valuing cultural origins while accepting innovation as part of growth. M Narayan’s artwork embraces spontaneous strokes, exuding vibrancy and evocativeness, drawing deeply from the rich rural landscapes of his upbringing to shape his artistic vision.; AG Nellagi paints his affection for animals and his spiritual devotion towards them through co-existence; Srinath Bidare exposes the underlying layers of textures coated by deft strokes of colours in his abstractions; Vijay Dhongadi paints women with big kumkum on forehead inspired by Savadatthi Yellamma Devi; Janardhan Havanje seeks to connect his expertise in Kaavi mural art with contemporary relevance, while Dr. Gopal J intertwines spiritual depth with rich cultural symbolism; and Ganesh Dhareshwar demonstrates mastery of spontaneous brushstrokes, producing figurative abstractions in both his paintings and mixed media sculptures.
The collection features ceramics by Ambika Shankar and Lakshmi Premkumar; paintings by Anand Bedrala that explore the realm of dreams; the vibrant energy of nature captured in the works of Ashok Hinge and Kayalvizhi Sethukarasu, which is further expressed through a sense of serenity in Balasubramanian’s pieces; depictions of South Indian cultural life by C Mullairajan; and the fluid, intertwined lines found in the drawings of Gopal Naskar; and rhythms and cycles of natural world get reflected in abstractions of Giliyal Jayaram Bhat. Additionally, themes of couple goals intertwined with symbolic elements such as flowers and animals feature prominently in the figurative works of Laxmi Mysore; a miniaturesque wash effect characterizes the divine figures created by MN Murthy; while Makali KK expresses his rich cultural and visual heritage through figures defined by bold, commanding outlines. Milna Sajee plays with human emotions and subconscious mind in her colourful abstract blotches of colours; Mintu Malik created meditative paintings with delicate figures charged with free flowing translucent threads of the drapery and veils; Bharathi Senthilvelan captures human figures engaged in everyday activities, reflecting the poetry of the mundane. Ruchi Chadha takes lotus for its beauty along with spiritual growth in her paintings; and two brothers SAV Elaiyabharathy and SAV Elaiyaraja enchantingly capture day to day lifestyle of South Indian culture in hyper realistic manner in watercolours. As a participant in the event, my mixed media works with collage are a pictorial diary- a visual storytelling with elements picked up from wandering thoughts mirroring nostalgia and precious keepsakes. Raviram constructs diverse forms of deities, animals, and insects using welded copper and brass sheets and wires; Roopa Kangovi’s wired bull sculptures captivate attention as she incorporates industrial scrap into her works, exploring recurring themes of transformation and impermanence.
Shalender Singh explores themes of innocence, nature and human resilience in his paintings often seen with rooster as focussed character; Lakshman Kabadi intriguingly uses wooden blocks to create his sculptural formations; Pritam Deuskar explores architecture and urban life through his printmaking techniques; Sunil Mishra sightsees allegorical domain in his sculptures with tiny, wooden carved human figures meek, repetitive and paralleling one another; Priti Ganatra creates visual poems through elusive enlargements, retrenchments and makeover of light in her photography; Mysore traditional art can be seen in the works of Dr J Dundu Raj, Meena Ganesh and Sudha Sridhar.
The Art Fair also had the works of established artists like J Nelson Kennedy, Senthil Kumar J, Ramsewak Shakya, Nupur Jha, Balu Sadalge, Ranjit Sarkar, Shivaraj M, Sivabalan, Usharanjan Mandal, Sunil Barman, Vidya Prasad, Murali, Sanjiv Sankkpal, Sanju Jain, N Karoonamoorthy,
Najeeb Abdulrahiman, and Bhaskar Kannan among others. Art Fair masterfully showcased the fusion of traditional and modern art forms by presenting assorted range of mediums and styles under one roof. It featured traditional Indian art forms alongside contemporary paintings,
sculptures, and digital and mixed media artworks- reimagined through modern artistic innovations and technology. All the artworks had a unique voice; which made one immediately recognize the style even among so many diverse artists. Each art told a story that resonated deeply, bridging different ethnicities and passions strikingly. The inclusion of sculptures, traditional art forms, abstract as well as conceptual paintings create a harmonious blend, where history and innovation coexist exquisitely, and captivating arras of artistic expression. Sculptures bring a tangible, three- dimensional presence that complements the intricate detailing of traditional art forms.
Meanwhile, abstract and conceptual paintings introduce innovative perspectives and contemporary narratives. Invited artists included VG Andani, CS Krishna Setty, SG Vasudev, Bhaskar Rao, Chandranath Acharya, Venugopal HS, Chandrashekhar C, Ganesh Somoji, MS Murthy, AM Prakash, Gurudas
Shenoy, Jasu Rawal, PS Kumar, Shivaprasad KT, Syeeda Ali, Syed Asif Ali, KV Kambar, Ramesh Rao, Shamsundar and Vijay Hagargundgi. The ancillary programmes contained live demonstration by Vilas Nayak, figurative art demonstration by M Narayan, landscape painting by Pritesh Rangole, Kavi Kale by Janardhan Havanje, lecture and workshop on Art Conservation by Dr Nitin Kumar, Art talks with Suresh Jayaram, Anita Reddy and Ravikumar Kashi and Performative Art by Smitha Cariappa, pushing the boundaries of traditional art, reflecting changing times and evolving creative practices. This immersive dimension of the event, emphasized gesture, movement, and live expression as vital components. Such exchanges bring up critical engagement, awareness and networking among artists, collectors, and enthusiasts,
elevating the overall Fair involvement.
Through artistic interactions at the Art Fair, one gained fresh and reflective and profound outlooks on multiculturalism. Participating in the art fair deepened the appreciation for varied artistic vocabularies by engaging in a pulsating community of creators with their own prized
voice from wide-ranging cultural upbringings. Hearing artists share their individual journeys, passages and trials, and artistic progressions, from drawing on life experiences to amalgamation of manifold sways and accepting imperfection, broadened the understanding of how art
transcends limitations and speaks a collective language. Engaging with different styles and narratives coaxes one to see beyond one’s own imaginative lens by embracing new concepts and approaches.
The event was inaugurated by HK Patil- Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Legislation and Tourism; SN Agarwal- renowned Industrialist and President Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath trust as Guest of Honour; presided over by Dr BL Shankar- President Karnataka Chitrakala
Parishath; along with Shashidhara Rao- General Secretary and SA Vimalnathan- Coordinator of the event.
Featuring Image Courtesy:
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