The NEWS Art Fest 2024 in Hyderabad is more than just an exhibition of contemporary art. It’s a creative convergence, meticulously crafted by the Hyderabad-based Laxman Aelay and Bolgum Nagesh Goud, and Mumbai’s Manvinder Dawer of India Fine Art. This cultural extravaganza is not just set out to display art but to create an immersive and interactive platform for art aficionados and the public alike. A rich program of sessions and workshops with prominent artists will roll out at the State Gallery of Art in Madhapur, initiating with an art camp scheduled for February 12, which will build up to a grand art exhibition starting on February 17.
This year, Hyderabad’s art scene is abuzz with an electrifying charge, as the NEWS Art Fest finally comes to fruition after two years of aspiration. “We aimed to showcase the artwork of at least 100 artists, but that figure has impressively doubled,” disclosed Manvinder. A dozen celebrated artists, including Anjolie Ela Menon, Shuvaprasanna, and Prabhakar Kolte, will not only present their work but directly engage with those who harbor a passion for the brush and canvas, irrespective of their stations as artists or enthusiasts. This openness symbolizes a breaking down of barriers between creators and spectators.
Envision walking through galleries imbued with strokes that trace back to the Bombay progressives, the artistic dialogues of Kolkata, the Madras School, and the narrative figurations of Baroda, among others. Paintings, sculptures, installations and other media will offer glimpses into the rich tapestry of Indian art. The vivid canvases of K Laxma Goud, Thota Vaikuntam, and Ravinder Reddy from the southern art realm will mingle with the humanistic expressions of Jogen Chowdhary, Suhas Roy, and Chandra Bhattacharya. Figurative and narrative reflections of the land by Rini Dhumal, Rekha Rodwittiya, and Surendran Nair speak to the country’s diverse geography and culture while Menon and Madhvi Parekh will stir the soul with works inspired by folk traditions.
The brave new world of abstractions is well represented with the creations of Prabhakar Kolte and Vinod Sharma. And if the vistas of the late Surya Prakash or the powerful strokes of a Ram Kumar canvas captivate you, the re-imaginings of mythologies in a Kalamkari style by Ramesh Gorjala will reaffirm the breadth of this visual language.
Sculpture enthusiasts will be delighted with Ravinder Reddy’s sacred idols and the earthen grace of Himmat Shah’s terracotta. Not to be outdone, stainless steel sculptures by Valey Shende and Arzan Khambatta and Karl Antao’s wooden renditions command attention with their three-dimensional presence.
The festival extends its reach into the domain of new media art, immaculately selected by Anand Gadapa and Nirmala Biluka. Through installations crafted from materials as varied as leather and carton boxes, the exhibition endeavors to trigger conversations on social themes. Whether it’s Swathi Bheemani’s ‘Fragments of Catastrophe’ or Rahul Mitra’s ‘Box City,’ a metaphor for urban life, the festival is set to deliver powerful critiques and reflections on our contemporary existence.
Hyderabad’s NEWS Art Fest 2024 is positioned to become a keystone event in the cultural calendar, guiding public engagement with art, nurturing appreciation, and most importantly, fostering a dialogue that escapes the confines of a gallery. Art, after all, is a conversation that belongs to the community, and the NEWS Art Fest is the exquisite venue for that exchange.
