For the artist's sake

When someone organises a retrospective of as many as 71 young artists, that too from the state, you are likely to do a double take. And when you are told about the sheer scale of the project, of which the said exhibition is only a launch, you are going to sit up and be all ears.

And that’s what it will be like when KalaRasa’s inaugural art exhibition, Rendezvous With 71, opens for the public come Sunday. Simply put, KalaRasa is an art studio — complete with a gallery, workshop space, resident artist rooms, amphitheatre, library, fashion store, café, and art development centre. Bangalore has seen nothing of this magnitude before.

The art house’s first step is a quite a stride — what with its sprawling complex located in a prime area of South Bangalore. Rendezvous With 71 is to be a showcase of the distinct practices and creativity of an eclectic mix of artists.

The oeuvres of these artists would bring together their collective narratives which examine and explore the various facets of human emotions, cultural connect, pathos, urban chaos, feminism, fantasy, spiritual beliefs. The artists seek, in their own singular ways, to unravel their creative instincts through a visually alluring interplay of colours, textures, mediums and conceptual themes, all with a refreshing approach.

The place and the project, verily, are about artists. The goal is to emphasise the importance of art and make it affordable. Though the founder of KalaRasa himself doesn’t come from an art background, his mission was to fill art in those spaces where it’s missing.

The man in question is Bharath Kumar A, once a software developer and subsequently an entrepreneur, who feels any space remains incomplete without an artistic touch to it. That’s something you wouldn’t even want to be told if you were to wander through the complex’s interiors — it’s minimalist and it’s white.

Bharath had started on a minimalist note as well. In 1993, he developed a software product on his own, sold 500 copies, and pocketed a handsome sum of Rs25,000. The moderate success served as an inspiration and egged him into thinking — whether he could do something on his own.

He arrived in Bangalore from the not-so-far-off Hiriyur, a small town in Chitradurga district better known for being home to the oldest dam of Karnataka. But the humdrum of a nine-to-five life was too stifling; he needed to do something on his own.

This he did by borrowing Rs3lakh from family and friends. He started Enterprise Software Solutions Lab Pvt Ltd (ESSL), and went on to establish many more companies — a Rs100crore empire of sorts.

The art house is his latest initiative, for he takes his responsibilities to society seriously. Talking about KalaRasa, Bharath contends that every human being needs some kind of inspiration to move ahead in life, and art is what truly inspires.

“Art provides identity, motivation to people. Without art, you are not alive. Through KalaRasa, I plan to not only inspire the people of Bangalore but people all over India. I am the first customer of KalaRasa,” he avers.

Bharath is a man of ideas. He continues, “We plan to conduct different kinds of workshops and programmes for people of all ages... painting, sculpting, dance, drama, music, and photography to begin with.

The place is ideal for book readings, discussions, lectures, and the like. We will also be hosting films and plays in the amphitheatre. Art installation programmes by KalaRasa will begin immediately after the inauguration. We are launching 71 amateur artists (we hear the last time a similar initiative to be taken was by Max Mueller Bhavan in 1964).

One of these amateur artists is Santosh CH. When he heard about KalaRasa looking for artists, he decided to send in his work, but never expected a response assuming they would go with renowned artists like most other art galleries.

“In contrast, KalaRasa is helping new artists like us. Here I am, as one of the 71 upcoming artists displaying their works on the day of the launch. I have also enrolled as a member, which allows me access to books on art that are difficult to find. And, I can afford their workshops. As an artist I want to learn new forms of art. The workshop space is artist-friendly.

And, for those artists who live outside the city, KalaRasa acts as a residence by allowing them to stay in the studio and complete their work.”

Art has a new home in town.