States » SouthPosted at: Nov 6 2026 5:01PM


Beyond Silicon Valley: Resurgent Fine Arts aims to put Bengaluru on global art map

Bengaluru, Nov 6 (UNI) At a time when technology and artificial intelligence are increasingly dominating public discourse, a former corporate executive is attempting to put art back into the centre of society, with an ambitious vision of transforming Bengaluru from India's Silicon Valley into a global hub of artistic expression.
Through Resurgent Fine Arts, Nirmal K Bharadwaj, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and IIM Ahmedabad, is seeking to address one of the biggest challenges confronting emerging artists — the absence of a sustainable market for their creativity.
The initiative, which recently organised an exhibition at the refurbished Venkatappa Art Gallery in Bengaluru, has brought together six artists from different regions and artistic traditions, offering them a platform to showcase their work and connect with potential buyers and art enthusiasts.
Bharadwaj, who spent nearly 25 years in the corporate sector, including 15 years abroad, said the initiative was born out of a growing concern that talented artists were struggling for recognition and financial security while the technology sector continued to attract disproportionate attention and resources.
"Are these artists any less? Are they not the future M F Husains and Tyeb Mehtas? Who is nurturing them? Who is taking their work to the market where they can be appreciated and appropriately compensated?" he asked.
Pointing to paintings by M F Husain and Tyeb Mehta fetching Rs 91 crore and Rs 63 crore respectively, he questioned why thousands of talented artists remained outside the mainstream art market.
He said the objective was not merely to organise exhibitions but to build an ecosystem in which artists could earn a livelihood from their creative abilities.
Bharadwaj's engagement with art dates back to his student days at IIM Ahmedabad, where he was encouraged by its founder, Professor Ravi J Mathai, to explore themes concerning disadvantaged sections of society.
During 1982-83, he created black-and-white paintings portraying widows, orphans and women experiencing suffering and social marginalisation. The works were subsequently telecast on Doordarshan.
Although his professional journey took him into the corporate world, his interest in artistic expression remained alive.
Having studied at IIT Kharagpur (1981 batch) and IIM Ahmedabad (1983 batch), he said he felt a responsibility to give back to society, particularly by supporting a section whose contribution often went unrecognised.
"We have studied in some of the best institutions with the support of taxpayers' money. We have a responsibility to give something back. I believe nurturing artists is one way of doing that," he said.
Making a strong case for bringing fine arts and science closer, Bharadwaj argued that technological advancement alone could not explain the complexity of human emotions and creativity.
Both science and art, he said, were different ways of understanding nature, but artistic expression captured intuitive, emotional and subjective experiences that could not always be measured through scientific parameters.
He cautioned against treating artificial intelligence and technology as solutions to every societal challenge, stressing that human imagination and individual interpretation remained central to artistic creation.
A painting, he observed, could evoke different emotions and interpretations in different viewers, making it an experience that could not be reduced to a single explanation.
The inaugural exhibition features works by Madan Mane, Gautam Bansal, Navraj Sakinal, Milind Bhagwat, Jagdish Patil and Rajkumar Kale. Their paintings explore diverse themes, including Mumbai's colonial architecture, Maharashtra's forts, Varanasi's ghats, rural landscapes, village communities, spirituality and the relationship between humans and nature.
Madan Mane's works capture the character of Mumbai's historic buildings and streets, alongside landscapes and everyday scenes from Maharashtra. His paintings also portray the ghats of Varanasi, fishing communities and rural life.
Gautam Bansal's charcoal art adds a distinctive dimension to the exhibition, showcasing the expressive possibilities of the medium through its interplay of shades, textures, depth and detailing.
Navraj Sakinal, a contemporary figurative artist, draws inspiration from his rural upbringing, depicting village women, family relationships, spirituality and the intimate connection between people and nature.
Other artists explore urban congestion, slum settlements, childhood memories and changing landscapes through contemporary, figurative and abstract expressions.
Bharadwaj said he was particularly keen to ensure that artists received fair value for their work. As an initial gesture of support, he purchased the paintings displayed by Mane, allowing the artist to determine their prices.
The initiative has already collected contact details of around 450 artists during the Chitra Santhe organised by Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in January this year.
It plans to showcase around 100 artists' works in its initial phase and gradually expand the network to 500 artists.
Paintings will remain its primary focus, followed by sculpture and photography.
Bharadwaj said his larger ambition was to create a sustained platform that would connect artists with collectors, institutions and audiences, while helping Bengaluru establish an international identity in the creative arts.
"Bengaluru is known as the Silicon Valley of India. But it should also become a major global hub for artistic outcomes, whether paintings, sculpture, photography or literature," he said.
For Bharadwaj, the ambition goes beyond displaying paintings. It is about ensuring that artists who interpret society, preserve cultural memories and express human emotions are no longer left on the margins of the economy.
The central idea is to create space for imagination and artistic enterprise alongside Bengaluru's achievements in science and technology.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Beyond Silicon Valley: Resurgent Fine Arts aims to put Bengaluru on global art map
More News

Akademi award winner blows lid off corruption: Previous Stalin govt in dock over procuring trash, junk for iconic Periyar library

06 Nov 2026 | 6:17 PM

By MC Rajan
Chennai, Nov 6 (UNI) Celebrated award-winning author Perumal Murugan has blown the lid off corruption in the purchase of junk books by ghost writers and fake publications at exorbitant prices for the iconic state-of-the-art library, Periyar Arivulagam (Periyar Knowledge World) in Coimbatore, putting the opposition DMK leadership and the embattled former Minister Anbil Mahes Poyyamozhi in the dock.

see more..

Kakinada: Three-tier security at counting centres for ZPTC, MPTC polls: SP

06 Nov 2026 | 6:10 PM

Kakinada, Nov 6 (UNI) Three-tier security arrangements have been made at vote counting centres for the ZPTC and MPTC elections scheduled to be held on November 7, Kakinada District Superintendent of Police Garikipati Bindu Madhav said on Friday.

see more..

Telangana Police to launch ‘Fit Cop’ App to monitor health of 90,000 personnel

06 Nov 2026 | 5:55 PM

Hyderabad, Nov 6 (UNI) The Telangana Police Department is set to launch ‘TG Fit Cop’, an app-based health management initiative to monitor and improve the physical and mental well-being of over 90,000 police personnel across the State.

see more..

Telangana BJP President Ramchander Rao offers prayers at Mookambika temple, Karnataka

06 Nov 2026 | 5:43 PM

Hyderabad/Kollur (Karnataka), Nov 6 (UNI) BJP Telangana State President N. Ramchander Rao on Friday visited the renowned Sri Mookambika Devi Temple at Kollur in Karnataka on the auspicious occasion of Diwali and offered special prayers to the presiding deity.

see more..

SRly makes concerted efforts to ensure comfortable travel during Diwali season

06 Nov 2026 | 5:36 PM

Chennai, Nov 6 (UNI) Apart from operating 132 Diwali special trains, Southern Railway has put in place a comprehensive set of initiatives to enhance the travel experience of passengers during this festive season (from the last week of October through November), while maintaining the highest standards of service.

see more..