International Museum Day: NGMA in Bengaluru to host series of events till May 31

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Bengaluru, is hosting a series of events to mark International Museum Day, with special programmes continuing till May 31.
On Sunday, May 18, the museum will offer free entry and extended hours until 9 p.m. Highlights include a community engagement workshop, Playful Path to Museum Setup, at 3 p.m., and an online presentation by Ambika Patel, president of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), discussing museum practices and standards in India.
A free shuttle service between Cubbon Park Metro Station and NGMA will be available from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 18.
Other events include storytelling sessions by Mamta Sagar and team on May 20 to 22 at 4 p.m., and a talk by Alka Pande on Devis, focusing on Karnataka, on May 30 at 5 p.m. The celebrations conclude on May 31 with the 'Sanhitha exhibition', a Braille and tactile art showcase at 11.30 a.m., followed by a puppet show by Dhaatu at 5 p.m. on the NGMA premises on Palace Road, Vasant Nagar.

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Hindustan Times

a day ago

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Caravaggio's 'Magdalene in Ecstasy' is an experience to behold, say visitors to art gallery

Bengaluru, The thing that got 11-year-old Mahaavin amazed when he discovered European master Caravaggio for the first time is the fact that the painting that hung at National Gallery of Modern Art was done in 1606. Caravaggio's 'Magdalene in Ecstasy' is an experience to behold, say visitors to art gallery Till July 6, NGMA will be displaying one of Caravaggio's works, "Magdalene in Ecstasy", thanks to Italian Embassy in Delhi, and in particular Alfonso Tagliaferri, Consul General of Italy in Bengaluru, who made sure the painting that was loaned to China, made a pitstop in Bengaluru too on its way back to Italy. After a month in Delhi, at Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, it arrived in Bengaluru on June 13. "That is like more than 400 years old. How can something this old be this well preserved," said Mahaavin, who had accompanied his dad to NGMA. The pre-teen, a native of Tumakuru, but who lives in Vijayawada, is no stranger to art. His father, Vinod Kumar, an artist himself, and who teaches visual art at the same school his son is studying, had ensured that his education is wholesome by enrolling in a school that pays attention to art as much as learning a math formula. Kumar said he also made sure they visit some interesting places, including museums, on their school breaks, like now, considering they get breaks together. "But nothing really prepared me for this experience here," said Mahaavin. Every visitor that PTI spoke to on June 20 echoed this sentiment. Seventy-plus years old Kiran Ganapathy, a native of Coorg, who is visiting her daughter in Bengaluru, said she was extremely glad that she let her daughter persuade her to come. "I studied here in Bengaluru and in my college days, frankly, Bengaluru had lot more to offer in terms of art. All those iconic places are now gone, really. I think the last time that I had an art outing here was probably in the 1980s," said Ganapathy. But being an Army wife, Ganapathy said she has travelled a lot. "We have been to Florence and been to those countless museums there. I am sure I have come across Caravaggio there," she said. But here in NGMA though, a huge empty hall is plunged into darkness with only a tiny light right above the painting illuminating it in such a way that the entire focus, no matter where you go in the hall, is only the painting –- that of Mary Magdalene, the woman believed to be a sex worker and Jesus Christ's disciple. The painting captures her rapture, highlighted by, as critics put it, "a ray of intense light, her head lolling back and eyes stained with tears". "I think this is perhaps the best way to learn about an artist, without feeling that fatigue one tends to in museums. I think one gets to understand Caravaggio's art much better like this than walking through a series of his paintings," added Ganapathy. It helped that the visitors also had an option to know a little bit more of Caravaggio's life, his style and his other famous works through an eight-minute virtual reality presentation. But some, like 71-year-old Annapoorna Sitaram, an artist herself, chose to sit in the bench placed strategically in front of the painting, lost in contemplation. When PTI caught up with Sitaram, she was already sitting there close to 30 minutes, taking in all the symbolisms that the artist has packed into his painting. She readily points them out to us: The little triangles that shoulders, neck and the drape of her clothes formed which in Medieval Europe primarily linked to Christian Holy Trinity . The greyish undertone to the skin that is to be expected of a woman who was a sex worker in those times. The stark contrast between red and white of the clothes, which denotes the clashing personality of Magdalene passionate and pure. The clash of light and darkness, which is an underlying theme of every Caravaggio. "As an artist though, I am amazed at how much drama he managed to create with so little. At a time when his fellow artists were filling the canvas with things, he stripped them bare. Just the effect of light which pours from the top left – has more drama than most animated figures of other artists," said Sitaram. Tagliaferri said this "theatricality" is called Caravaggesque style. "He was very ahead of his time. He created a sense of photography, cinematography even, with the way he handled light. His paintings take you directly to that moment of drama – in this painting, it is the ecstasy of Magdalene. This is what makes Caravaggio's works compelling," said Tagliaferri. Sneha, who is "taking a break" from teaching, said she had a moment of epiphany while standing in front of the painting: once a teacher, always a teacher. Her "teacher" eyes immediately spotted possibly the only thing that went wrong — lighting is too dim to make out the most famous symbolism in "Magdalene in Ecstasy", the 'cross and crown of thorns'. According to a signage nearby, the skull at the bottom right and the cross at top left denote the eternal pull between the good and the evil that mankind goes through. "I mean, wasn't that the point of the painting? How can we compromise on that? Somebody needs to tell the organisers to brighten the lights a bit more," said the 45-year-old teacher. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

The Hindu

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Air India Art Collection at NGMA Bengaluru carries a whiff of nostalgia

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Six of Prabha's paintings were purchased for 'a sum of 87 rupees and 8 annas each' and were later displayed at the Air India Booking Office in London, garnering a lot of attention. This prompted the start of a project to not only showcase Indian culture, but also give fillip to the airline's reputation and came to be known as the Maharaja Collection. 'These works of art would be displayed at official airline launches and other prestigious events where bhoota kunita and other cultural performances from different States would also be presented,' says Darshan. The collection built up over the years, and in some instances, a barter system was chalked out where artists would give the airline artworks in lieu of airfare. When artist Jitish Kallat had a show in London and the gallery could not afford his fare, Air India sponsored his travel. As a token of his gratitude, he created a painting which is on display at Sanhita, adds Darshan. The untitled piece of acrylic on canvas, was executed in 1998, and reflects Jitish's attention to detail, colour and texture, in his quest to capture contemporary life. Over time, the Air India Art Collection amassed over 10,000 pieces of art and artefacts that comprised paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs and more, besides rare books and clocks, costumes and jewellery. The collection of six decades is testament to both, traditional and modern Indian art history. Change of hands Needless to say, the transfer of this collection from Air India's treasure troves to NGMA's archives was a time-consuming process taking the the better part of five years, and was completed late last year. Darshan says, 'The Air India building in Mumbai housed a huge collection built over a period of time with works from so many artists; there were many formalities that had to be taken care of, especially in terms of documentation, before they were moved to NGMA Delhi.' Sanhita comprises as many as 180 works by iconic Indian artists such as MF Husain, KH Ara, FN Souza, B Vital, Kanchan Chandra, Arpana Caur, Pillo Puchkanwala and Achuthan Kudallur, alongside sculptures by Janaki Ram, Bhadri Narayan and S Nandagopal, among others. A statement by NGMA-B reads, 'The transfer of Air India's collection to NGMA symbolises the enduring connection between Indian art and institutional treasures, ensuring that the legacy of Air India's art collection remains a vital part of our artistic heritage. This collaboration has been instrumental in preserving and promoting India's cultural history.' Royal welcome A passageway in deep red and cream welcomes visitors to Sanhita — starting with a mirror ensconced in a jharokha frame reminiscent of the airline's windows. Illustrations by celebrated cartoonist Mario Miranda line the corridor throwing humorous light on the workings of the industry. 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'They were keen on crafting items that were engaging and utilitarian as well. In an age where our entire lives revolve around our phones and laptops, the charm of those days remain unmatched.' Wonder walk While the entire collection includes rare works, a must-see is a piece by Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali. 'The artist was commissioned by the airline to create a souvenir and he crafted an unusual ashtray. From one side it resembles a swan, but when viewed from another angle, one can see two swans and an elephant. If turned upside down, a swan and two elephant heads are visible,' says Darshan. As many as 600 editions of this piece crafted out of glazed bisque porcelain in two iterations — a blue or green serpent forming the rim of the ashtray. For his efforts, Dali requested a baby elephant as payment and the ashtray is part of an immersive and interactive display at Sanhita. 'It is interesting to see a proficient and internationally known artist in contrast with India's art scene at the time. It also captivates viewers' interest on how versatile artists can be.' he says. Among the other works, look out for art by husband-wife duo B Vital and B Prabha, Pilloo Pochkhanawala, tantric artist GR Santosh, a set of small format works by VS Gaitonde, an eight work cluster by Badri Narayan, and a huge canvas from MF Husain's Horses series. 'Anjolie Ela Menon's window works are also on display. Painted on windows, they have a 3D feel and have been beautifully incorporated into the space. With NGMA-B being a 100-year old building, her art offers a different connect,' he says. With over 180 works on display to marvel at, plan to spend the better of your day soaking in the spirit of these masters. It is a chance that may not come by in a while. Sanhita: A New Beginning for the Air India Collection will be on display at NGMA Bengaluru till August 31, 2025, with the possibility of an extension. Call 08022342338 for details.

New Indian Express

5 days ago

• New Indian Express

Director Subhadra Mahajan: Second Chance is a very feminine film

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