I have my doubts,” says museum curator Alka Pande as she reflects on Bengaluru’s distinct art scene, AI in art and Gen Z collectors. “With so much war and strife happening, what are people looking for?” she asks. A pause, then the answer: “Beauty and tranquillity.”
“I think art should always come from the heart. Art is something that moves you. Can AI move you all the time? An art connoisseur since childhood, Alka grew up in a home filled with music, dance, literature and poetry. Of late, she has been travelling across the country in search of unusual voices and new visual languages for the shows she is curating.
‘Bengaluru vs Delhi: Two cities, two grammars of art’ “As a curator, I’m also a storyteller of art,” she says. Having spent years in Delhi, Alka finds the contrast between the artistic languages of Delhi and Bengaluru fascinating. “People in Bengaluru are influenced by culture, literature, mythology and stories. Artists often talk about their lives in their art. And the life of artists working in North India is very different from the ones in the South,” she notes.
I can’t say how beautiful and immersive AI art would be or how much rasa it would have Alka Pande Five artists on Alka Pande’s radar Bagh Baanaa by Mayank Shyam Price: ₹2,00,000 A Walk in the Park by Mandakini Devi Price: ₹4,00,000 Four Moons from Symbiotic Land by Amjum Rizve Price: ₹3,50,000 Sukun by Dweety Patel Price: ₹80,000 Godna Artist by Asha Thadani Price: ₹3,00,000 You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru Stay updated with the latest Bengaluru news. Because i don’t know enough about it, i’m not such a great fan yet.
“When I string them together into a ragamala or a garland of stories, it becomes like a book of short stories,” she explains. ‘I delve deep into India and its many colours’ “Art, for me, is a reflection of society,” she says, adding, “Artists are, in some ways, documenters of society, of the climate and the ecosystem. There’s theatre here,” she says. Her travels, she says, have deepened her love for India’s cultural diversity. I feel it is not one India, it is many Indias,” Alka says. “Gen Z views art very differently from older generations,” Alka explains. “They are far more cosmopolitan because they are exposed to a wider range of ideas through their phones and social media,” she adds. They don’t even need galleries — it’s like a startup,” Alka says. “I’m a great worshipper of the Devi,” she says, but also took the opportunity to meet local artists. I saw artists experimenting with everything from traditional stone to modern beadwork,” she says. “The architecture, the café, and the way art had been woven into every corner of the space, including a magnificent Nataraja sculpture, were inspiring,” she says. Artificial intelligence, Alka says, is the art world’s next great challenge, although she admits she is still learning about the technology. I don’t know,” she says.
Delhi, layered with politics, power and chaos, evokes a heavier visual response. In Bengaluru, she sees artists experimenting with natural pigments and colours, while telling stories rooted in their own communities. Bengaluru, she adds, has created an art ecosystem of its own rather than simply depending on the gallery circuits of Delhi and Mumbai. “I see a lot of students at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath creating their own work who are genuinely interested in art. There’s also the Bangalore Literature Festival happening. “When I visited the Indian Music Experience, for instance, I was gobsmacked. It’s beautifully done,” she beams with delight. “As I’m growing older and understanding my country more and more, I’m realising the cultural difference in this country. Different languages, cuisines, traditions and ways of life may divide the country geographically, she believes, but spirituality and philosophy create deeper connections. “Even though we may speak different languages, eat different foods and look different, spirituality and philosophy unify us and keep us together. India is like Europe. We have so much diversity. But there is unity in diversity. It is this diversity that continues to draw her towards Indian visual culture. Alka Pande ‘The Gen Z art collector knows that owning an art piece is a part of their own identity and taste’ The way people collect art is changing too, particularly among younger buyers. younger buyers are more drawn to quirkier and experimental work While traditional collectors often focus on beauty and craftsmanship. “Many artists are promoting their work on Instagram. As for the buyers, she explains, “Gen Z is very well-informed and aware. They know that owning an art piece is a part of their own identity and taste. They may not buy very expensive pieces of art but they buy very quirky and different art for their homes. Alka adds, “Hundreds of people buy art, and many buy with an eye on the market. Many of them collect only as investments. Some people buy for the sheer joy of it. So it depends on what you are buying. But for the true lovers of art, they have a judicious balance of both investment and creativity. Gen Z is very well-informed and aware. Alka Pande Mysuru through an art curator’s eye A recent trip to Mysuru offered Alka another glimpse into the relationship between art and culture. She had travelled to the city to visit the Chamundeshwari Temple. “The artists in Mysuru are very innovative and deeply connected to their environment. Alka was equally struck by the Jagannatha Centre for Art & Culture. Can AI create rasa ? “As a curator, that’s not easy to reckon with. But many artists are using it. Ultimately, it’s all about the prompts that a human gives the machine. I can’t say how beautiful and immersive AI art would be or how much rasa it would have. It can be immersive but would it have the same aesthetic enjoyment and aesthetic expression? Download the TOI App.