Heritage Beku & Birds Eye Bangalore - Conversation with the Artist Santosh Mahale
Bird's Eye Bangalore with Santosh Mahale & Heritage Beku 5pm , Sunday 10 November 2024
Quick recap
The meeting began with introductions before transitioning to a conversation about Santosh's journey from engineering to art, focusing on his memory projects and upcoming exhibition. Both Santosh and Priya then explored the importance of preserving heritage in cities like Bangalore and Kolkata, discussing initiatives and challenges in conservation efforts. The conversation concluded with reflections on balancing artistic pursuits with personal life and the potential impact of art in raising awareness about heritage preservation.
Santosh's Journey From Engineering to Art
Priya and Santosh discussed Santosh's transition from a career in engineering and management consulting to art, specifically focusing on his memory projects. Santosh shared his journey, explaining how his experiences living in various cities and countries influenced his art. He emphasized the importance of memory and nostalgia in his work, particularly in relation to his hometown, Bangalore. Santosh also discussed his approach to art, which combines his analytical skills with his passion for storytelling. The conversation concluded with Priya appreciating Santosh's unique style and the way his art captures the essence of Bangalore.
Preserving City Heritage and Memories
Priya and Santosh discussed their personal connections to their city and the importance of preserving heritage. Priya shared her experiences with Heritage Beku, a citizen initiative in Bangalore, and how it was triggered by the destruction of a building that was significant to the city's history. Santosh, an artist, shared his passion for capturing the essence of his city through his paintings, emphasizing the importance of preserving the city's history and memories. Both agreed on the need for collective action to protect their city's heritage and the importance of understanding and appreciating the city's history.
Respecting Artists and Finding Balance
Santosh expressed his newfound respect for artists and his commitment to continue painting. He acknowledged the challenges of being an artist and the privilege it is to pursue this passion. Santosh also shared his experience of finding a happy balance between his career and artistic pursuits during his sabbatical. He noted that this balance was facilitated by the respect for individuality and time in Australia, which allowed him to pursue his passion without feeling constrained. Priya agreed with Santosh's perspective, emphasizing the importance of embracing multiple universes and finding a balance between work and personal interests.
Santosh's Art Exhibition: Green and Blue Spaces
Priya and Santosh discussed Santosh's upcoming art exhibition, which features a large piece consisting of 39 small canvases. The exhibition, titled "Greener and Bluer Bangalore," aims to showcase the expansion of Bangalore by mapping out the city's green and blue spaces. Santosh explained that the idea for the exhibition came from his desire to paint a map of Bangalore, but he realized that he couldn't change the map to fit his needs. Instead, he decided to focus on the city's green and blue spaces, which are often associated with heritage sites. The exhibition will celebrate these spaces and their importance in preserving the city's history and future.
Preserving Bangalore's Green and Blue Spaces
Priya and Santosh discussed the evolving nature of memory and heritage in Bangalore. They acknowledged that the city's landscape and cultural events have significantly impacted their lives and memories. Priya emphasized the importance of preserving the city's green and blue aspects, which have been destroyed over time. They also touched on the need for policy-related initiatives to maintain the city's aesthetics and heart. Santosh agreed with Priya's points, highlighting the importance of balancing preservation with progress.
Promoting Heritage Conservation Through Awareness
Santosh and Priya discussed the importance of awareness in promoting heritage conservation. Santosh suggested that awareness is the first step towards success, and that it's essential to bring people together to collectively come up with solutions. He also proposed connecting with expat networks to leverage their knowledge and resources. Priya agreed with these suggestions and proposed that Santosh become the head of their Australian expat heritage initiative. They also discussed the challenges of working with the government and the need for more involvement from expats. The conversation ended with Santosh expressing his fondness for Kolkata, which he considers a city with a unique heritage.
Santosh's Art and Family Life
Santosh discussed his passion for painting and his recent exhibition featuring 39 images of various cities, including Calcutta. He shared his thought process behind choosing colors and compositions for each city, and how he balances his art with his family life. Priya, who is also involved in a similar initiative to preserve the city's architectural legacy, expressed her admiration for Santosh's work and encouraged others to visit his exhibition. They also discussed the importance of preserving heritage and the potential for different interpretations of Santosh's art, such as a theatrical version. Santosh expressed his gratitude for the support of his family and his commitment to finding a balance between his art and other aspects of his life.
Next steps
• Santosh to initiate and lead the Australian expat heritage initiative for Heritage Beku.
• Heritage Beku to explore connecting with expat networks from other countries to learn from their heritage preservation experiences.
• Priya to visit Santosh's exhibition at Chitrakala Parishad between November 20th and December 1st.
• Heritage Beku to consider collaborating with Calcutta Architectural Legacy (CAL) for best practices in heritage preservation.
• Santosh to potentially explore other artistic interpretations of Bangalore's heritage, such as musical or theatrical versions.
• Heritage Beku to continue raising awareness about Bangalore's heritage through various initiatives and collaborations.
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