V Ravichandar
In Dialogue with
01.
On barriers, blind spots, and building a cultural future for Bengaluru
In a city where creativity thrives but cultural infrastructure often struggles, conversations about sustainability are no longer optional. In this first-edition exclusive, V Ravichandar reflects on power, patronage, philanthropy, and the structural shifts Bengaluru must embrace to build a resilient arts ecosystem. This is not merely a conversation about funding, it is about the cultural future we are collectively shaping.
Where does the real decision-making power lie in the city’s cultural ecosystem?
Vichitra Chitra Nartana
Inherited Futures
02.
Back in 2020, I travelled to a few lesser-known Hoysala temples with Dr. Karuna Vijayendra and Dr. Ramya. There are moments in one’s arts journey that alter one’s understanding permanently. This was one of them. We sat on the cool stone floors of temple mandapas, surrounded by sculpted dancers and musicians whose forms had endured for centuries. What unfolded was not observation; it was decoding.
Rhythmic structures were traced from the placement of carved hands. Tempo was inferred from the torsional dynamics of sculpted bodies. Melodic possibilities were extrapolated from instruments etched into friezes, silent for nearly a millennium.
The performance is over.
Please
stand up!
Bengaluru is my most favorite place (read as “people”) in the World. Obviously, because it is home. But also, it has an endearing charm about it. I truly believe that collectively, all of us have managed to create a city that is safe yet aspirational. We welcome people from everywhere to make this their home (or second home in the least). The arts scene of Bengaluru is particularly interesting.
03.
Artist Spotlight
04.
Harish N: Scaling Art to World Records
Harish N’s foundation in the visual arts is rooted in rigorous academic training at the KEN School of Arts, Bangalore, and the Ravi Varma School of Arts, Mysore. Over the years, he has combined his mastery of technique with a fearless ambition for scale, turning every project into a statement of precision and creativity.
Venue spotlight
05.
NeeRav Arts Village: Where Art Breathes
Tucked away near Byramangala, Bidadi, just beyond the city’s bustle, NeeRav Arts Village (NAV) feels less like a facility and more like a living organism devoted to the creative spirit. Here, the rustle of leaves and the distant resonance of a flute become companions to the work of art.
Designed to reconnect the artist with the elements, NAV embodies holistic living not as a buzzword, but as daily practice. Life moves seamlessly between the cottages, farms, and the main stage, which seats 200, creating a space intimate enough for deep connection yet capable of holding professional productions.
