Durbar Hall Art Centre, the State Lalithakala Akademi's modernized art gallery of international standards, was dedicated to the nation by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at a function at the Durbar Hall premises on Sunday.
The modernisation project of the gallery that took about a year and cost Rs.3 crore taken up by the Kochi Biennale Foundation has provided over 10,000 square feet of space for displaying works of art in two floors, making it a premier space that the artists will enjoy here, said Mr. Chandy.
With the opening of the all-new Durbar Hall art gallery and the mushrooming of several big and small art galleries, Kochi is being transformed into one of the most important art circuits in the country. Quite a change from its earlier static and uninspiring art scene.
Now the harbour city is set to become a favourite destination for the artistic fraternity across the country.
“The Durbar Hall art gallery is now the finest gallery in the country. It will undoubtedly attract the most talented artists from across the world,” predicted Riyas Komu, secretary of the Kochi Biennale Foundation, which had undertaken the gallery’s renovation.
The gallery has been remodeled along international standards, using lights imported from Germany and climate and pest-control facilities, he said.
The renovation was done by the Mumbai-based conservation architect, Vikas Dilawari, with lighting arrangements by Sathish Rane from Pune.
The city has seen the mushrooming of several small and big art galleries in the recent past. Fort Kochi and Mattanchery are dotted with a number of galleries displaying creative works.
“The Durbar Hall gallery has been converted into one of the best galleries in the world. This is really going to be an international space. After the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, more international shows will come to Kochi,” says Mr. Rajan M Krishnan, a renowned artist.
T. Kaladharan, a veteran artist who was behind the establishment of the state’s renowned Kalapeedhom, welcomes the arrival of this modern gallery.
“There will be a host of exhibitions in the city now, especially with the Kochi Muziris Biennale exhibition scheduled in 2012. With the proliferation of galleries, there could be a tendency to come out with prints, which should be discouraged,” he cautioned.
The creative contribution of the younger generation of artists from the state like Riyas Komu, Bose Krishnamachari, Rajan M Krishnan, Zakeer Hussein, N.N. Rimson and many others have contributed to Kochi’s growth as a major art centre.
“There was a time when most Kerala artists preferred to move to other cities to continue their art career. But now the trend is showing a reversal,” adds Rajan.
The modernisation project of the gallery that took about a year and cost Rs.3 crore taken up by the Kochi Biennale Foundation has provided over 10,000 square feet of space for displaying works of art in two floors, making it a premier space that the artists will enjoy here, said Mr. Chandy.With the opening of the all-new Durbar Hall art gallery and the mushrooming of several big and small art galleries, Kochi is being transformed into one of the most important art circuits in the country. Quite a change from its earlier static and uninspiring art scene.
Now the harbour city is set to become a favourite destination for the artistic fraternity across the country.
“The Durbar Hall art gallery is now the finest gallery in the country. It will undoubtedly attract the most talented artists from across the world,” predicted Riyas Komu, secretary of the Kochi Biennale Foundation, which had undertaken the gallery’s renovation.
The gallery has been remodeled along international standards, using lights imported from Germany and climate and pest-control facilities, he said.
The renovation was done by the Mumbai-based conservation architect, Vikas Dilawari, with lighting arrangements by Sathish Rane from Pune.
The city has seen the mushrooming of several small and big art galleries in the recent past. Fort Kochi and Mattanchery are dotted with a number of galleries displaying creative works.
“The Durbar Hall gallery has been converted into one of the best galleries in the world. This is really going to be an international space. After the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, more international shows will come to Kochi,” says Mr. Rajan M Krishnan, a renowned artist.
T. Kaladharan, a veteran artist who was behind the establishment of the state’s renowned Kalapeedhom, welcomes the arrival of this modern gallery.
“There will be a host of exhibitions in the city now, especially with the Kochi Muziris Biennale exhibition scheduled in 2012. With the proliferation of galleries, there could be a tendency to come out with prints, which should be discouraged,” he cautioned.
The creative contribution of the younger generation of artists from the state like Riyas Komu, Bose Krishnamachari, Rajan M Krishnan, Zakeer Hussein, N.N. Rimson and many others have contributed to Kochi’s growth as a major art centre.
“There was a time when most Kerala artists preferred to move to other cities to continue their art career. But now the trend is showing a reversal,” adds Rajan.
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