ART FOR EVERYONE

Kiran Nadar’s delightful, diverse collection of 5,000 artworks represents all the major phases of modern and contemporary Indian art at the two venues of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. The iconic art connoisseur speaks with SUMEET KESWANI about the importance of accessibility, digital and immersive exhibits, and her favourite cities and museums.

- SUMEET KESWANI

What role does art play amid a global pandemic?

Art can be a therapeutic outlet for many people. This is in all forms, be it viewing, experiencing, or engaging in the creation of it. It allows the viewer to get completely lost in the beauty of a piece, being absorbed by the mesmerising brushstrokes of a painting or the smooth contours of a sculpture. The wonder of the human hand that has created such beauty, and the attempt to create something similar with your own hands can be an absorbing journey that requires an almost meditative effort, which can calm the mind and allow for some much-needed downtime.

With gatherings out of bounds, museums had to adopt novel ways to exhibit art over the last year and a half. What was your take on these, and how did the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) adapt?

It was interesting to see the quick uptake of digital. At KNMA, one of our big achievements was the introduction of virtual tours of some exhibitions, allowing audiences a 3-D viewing experience. With audiences confined to their homes and looking for engagement of any kind, KNMA put together and continues to offer a well-rounded digital programme. This includes, but is not limited to, workshops, discussions, DIY, online film festivals, contests, virtual tours, virtual exhibitions, [and] a new digital series that includes Art x Fashion, Art x Design, Art Meets Street, Art x Food, and The Art of Sustainability. Many of the Art X series was filmed totally on mobile devices. The workshops have been crafted to encourage creativity and concentration as a restorative activity.