‘Art scene changing for better’
“Taking the first step is difficult. Once one takes the initiative, everything else falls in place and one will be ready to face small issues,” says Siri Yarlagadda about her decision to launch the gallery Pipal Art Tree gallery in Fateh Maidan.
With a passion for photography and a degree in finance, Siri Yarlagadda brings in both a business acumen and aesthetic sensibilities. “My family has always been into art,” she says of her reasons of moving close to art. When she made up her mind to set up a gallery, she went to London to do a course in art. “The main purpose was to have a better orientation towards art and I started the gallery in my own small way,” she says. Launched by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, the gallery hosted a major show in September. “The art world is very difficult to understand,” she points out with a smile and adds, “One should find the right people who understand and appreciate art.” She is appreciative of the growing art awareness in Hyderabad. “With many galleries and different art shows, the Hyderabad art scene is changing for the better,” she says.
With a gallery to manage, photography has taken a back seat. However, she plans to host photographybased exhibitions also at the gallery.
Building the art community
The first thing that strikes visitors at DHI Art Space is its uninterrupted display space, 2000 sq ft to be precise. Since the art centre opened its doors in October this year, Dharam Karan Road in Ameerpet has become another destination for art lovers. Its founder Bhargavi Gundala with a master’s degree in art has been an art collector for nine years before she decided to take the plunge. As a frequent traveller to Baroda to see the display by students, she found herself drawn to the world of printmaking. “There are no promoters for printmakers. Nobody knows and encourages them. Inadvertently, I started collecting prints,” she states and adds, “I was also drawn to the beautiful culture in Baroda. By evenings, studios become empty as students, art teachers, co-artists, art lovers got out and meet, talk, share ideas and engage in meaningful conversations. I found all these things to be missing in Hyderabad.”
With a dream to build that kind of art community in the city, Bhargavi launched DHI Art Space (‘Dhi’ taken from Sanskrit means the thought-mind or intellect). Bhargavi says gallery is just one aspect of the art space.
“There is a library, printmaking studio, and interactive space,” she says The art space hosts talks by artists, hosts workshops and art related events and documentaries related to an artist’s thought process are screened every Saturday.
“My dream is to build the art community and create a healthy art environment in Hyderabad,” she says with a smile.
Carving a niche
It is a beautiful blend of art and science at B.M. Birla Science Centre. If the science centre accentuates the scientific temper, the Nirmala Birla Gallery of Modern Art is manna for art lovers.
With an amazing, vast collection of paintings and artefacts, the gallery carves a niche in the city.
With a new exhibition hall of the gallery that opened near the parking lot, art takes a new form here. Its curator artist Srikanth Babu talks about the hall’s lighting and display as its high points. Another important feature of the exhibition hall is its huge space, allowing an amazing view of the paintings mounted on the walls.
The hall is let out to local and seasoned artists for the exhibitions. “Art camps, shows, seminars and workshops can be conducted free of cost at the gallery,” informs Srikanth Babu. ‘Combined’, an art exhibition where different city artists participated was held recently. The gallery also provides certificates to those artistes who present their art work to the gallery’s collection. “These certificates can enhance an artist’s bio-data,” he says.
Incidentally, Srikanth Babu’s gallery Kala Eshwar Art Gallery in Karmanghat is moving to S.R. Nagar in January, 2015 .
