Hampi Art Labs invites you to create

JSW Foundation's Hampi Art Labs is on the brink of unveiling its doors to the public on February 5th. Situated in close proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi in Karnataka, this expansive nine-acre facility boasts exhibition spaces, studios, residency apartments, lush gardens, and a cafe—constituting a noteworthy augmentation to the cultural panorama. The JSW Foundation stands as the social development arm of the esteemed JSW Group.

Conceived by Sangita Jindal and her daughter Tarini Jindal Handa, Hampi Art Labs emerges as an interdisciplinary institution drawing inspiration from the ancient temple city of Hampi, renowned for its thriving art, architecture, and literature from the 14th-16th centuries.

Sangita Jindal, the visionary Founder of Hampi Art Labs, articulates her aspirations, proclaiming, "Hampi Art Labs is poised to significantly enhance arts infrastructure and production facilities in the country, emerging as a cultural destination for both local and international visitors." She further reveals that the initiative finds inspiration in her mother, Urmila Kanoria, a trailblazer who established one of India's pioneering residency programs at the Kanoria Centre for Arts in Ahmedabad back in 1984.

The architectural brilliance of Hampi Art Labs is credited to Mumbai-based architect Sameep Padora and his studio sP+a, also the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at CEPT University in Ahmedabad. The design pays homage to its natural environs, incorporating organic forms and utilizing locally sourced materials like soil, stone, and steel.

Tarini Jindal Handa, the Creative Director of Hampi Art Labs, underscores its inclusive and artist-centric ethos, fostering a cross-disciplinary environment for art creation and engagement with the region's rich heritage and artisanal legacy, alongside India's contemporary art scene.

The forthcoming inauguration on February 5th marks a momentous milestone in the cultural and artistic landscape, promising to be a nucleus for creative exploration and cultural exchange.

News by Rahul Yelligetti