Artist Bhagya Ajaikumar explains how good curation balances individual expression and collective vision

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The Venkatappa and Swasti art galleries in Bengaluru recently hosted the group exhibition titled Bhoomi (see our coverage of earlier exhibitions at Venkatappa gallery here). It was curated by Bhagya Ajaikumar and Pradeep Kumar DM, with works by around 40 artists.

The Swasti gallery was launched in Bengaluru in 2007 to promote art and raise funds for the HCG Foundation as support for cancer patients. Since 2018, Swasti has also conducted art therapy events for cancer patients and their family members.

Dedicated art space in a hospital setting gives a positive energy to patients and their family members. With that goal in mind, Swasti has been actively involved in organising art shows, camps and workshops, with artists coming from across the country and abroad.

“I am currently planning and working on several exciting projects, both as an artist and a curator. This includes a solo presentation titled THANDAV, featuring my art creations inspired by classical Indian dance,” Ajaikumar tells YourStory.

The exhibition will be presented at the RASA cultural festival at Prestige Auditorium in Bengaluru, January 8-10. 2027. She is also curating the upcoming third International KALA Symposium in Mysuru.

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“With the vision of art as a catalyst for healing and development, the symposium is conceived as a creative platform connecting fine art, healthcare philanthropy, and grassroots community development. It will be hosted at Bharath Cancer Hospital,” she adds.

Her gallery is also planning an art activity with paediatric oncology patients to celebrate Children's Day this month. “Another ongoing initiative is the installation of artworks in consultation rooms across our hospitals,” Ajaikumar says.

As trends in Indian contemporary art, she points to the revival of traditional Indian art forms through contemporary interpretations. “Styles such as Madhubani, Gond, Pichwai and Mysore are being explored through acrylics on canvas, square compositions, minimalistic presentations, and unconventional materials,” she observes.

“With increasing competition and the pressure to produce work within shorter periods, many traditional processes are gradually disappearing. Traditional knowledge and techniques should also be respected,” she affirms.

Another exciting development is the transformation of traditional Indian crafts into large-scale contemporary installations. “Some traditional art forms are moving beyond small-format works on paper to large canvases, murals and public installations,” she says.

Indian contemporary art is also responding to changes in social, political and environmental realities. “Many artists are exploring themes of identity, migration, displacement, urbanisation, globalisation, and ecology. They encourage viewers to question and reflect on the world around them,” Ajaikumar observes.

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“I believe this shift is important because art should not merely be decorative. It can communicate ideas, challenge perceptions and create awareness about issues that affect society,” she affirms.

Collectors are increasingly interested in theme-based series rather than isolated, standalone artworks. “Conceptual works, installations, environmentally conscious practices, and works addressing social and women's issues are receiving greater attention,” she adds.

As for tech trends, AI offers digital artists exciting tools and possibilities for experimentation. “However, use of AI also raises important questions about originality, authorship, authenticity and the value of the human hand and imagination in art,” she cautions.

“Another development I find particularly encouraging is the increasing presence of art in public spaces, especially airports. Major airports in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru are providing opportunities to showcase large-scale artworks and installations,” she observes (see our photo essay on art and design at Bengaluru’s airport here).

With their large spaces, airports can bring art closer to people who may not necessarily visit galleries or museums. “These installations often combine art, architecture, unconventional materials, and multimedia practices. They can transform otherwise functional spaces into engaging cultural environments,” she adds.

The exhibitor lineup in her Bhoomi exhibition includes Meenakshi Chinna Rathod, Meghana Gante Ravish, Nagappa Pradhani, Nikhil R Sharma, Nirmala Kumari CS, Premkumar K, Ranganath Amrad, Revanasiddayya SH, Renuka Markande, SG Vasudev, and Santosh Pattar.

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Akshay Bhat is an emerging contemporary artist from Karnataka whose practice reflects an interest in expressive visual language and contemporary aesthetics. Alka Chavda is a contemporary visual artist whose practice centres on painting and mixed media.

Renuka Markande is an accomplished artist, educator and researcher whose creative practice bridges academic inquiry and contemporary visual expression. Bhagya Ajaikumar explores expressive painting and the emotional possibilities of colour and form.

Hanumanta T frequently draws inspiration from local traditions, landscapes and everyday human interactions, transforming familiar imagery into evocative narratives. Ishwarayya OM explores themes of identity, environment and human resilience.

Manushya explores universal themes of humanity, coexistence and personal identity through painting and interdisciplinary practice. Marishamachar draws inspiration from regional narratives and lived experience, and creates works that resonate with both cultural specificity and universal human concerns.

As a curator of such a diverse exhibition, Ajaikumar particularly likes placing emerging artists alongside established professionals. “This allows them to learn from one another and gain greater exposure,” she explains.

“I believe that an exhibition should offer more than a collection of individual artworks. It should create a meaningful visual and intellectual experience for the viewer,” she says.

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This can be particularly challenging when working with a specific theme. “The curator must establish a meaningful connection between the exhibition's concept and the individual artist's interpretation. There should be a common thread connecting their contributions,” she describes.

“Curators also encourage emerging artists and help them develop their ideas. A carefully curated exhibition can challenge younger artists to think beyond their usual boundaries, experiment with new approaches and raise the quality of their work,” Ajaikumar signs off.

Now what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?

(All photographs taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at Venkatappa Art Gallery.)