Cholamandalam Artists Village, Chennai

Yea, what a let down! Such a disservice to artists! I am amazed by the callousness of this place. The only thing that appealed to me was the sculpture garden. Cholamandalam is a collection of galleries in Chennai, India and believe me its a waste of good space. It was blatantly obvious that the politics of the place has completely killed the essence that the founders meant to instill.

I walked into the main gallery in the ground floor and was greeted by a most unhappy lady at the reception who was busy signing papers of some kind, professor style. Anyway, when I picked up the artists information, I was told by the cleaning lady(!) that this information was confidential and I was not allowed to take it with me. And from then on, she followed me everywhere to make sure I didn't STEAL the artists info. I don't have a photographic memory and the inflated prices there definitely meant I wasn't going to pick anything during my first visit. So, how was I going to research on the artist???? I started writing down all the artists names.

Anyway, the best part about the galleries were the sculptures. Barring a select few, the paintings were mediocre and the concept of 'Indian Contemporary Abstract' seemed like a lost cause. The artists could not leave abstract to its true nature, it did not seem effortless. And too much of an overdose of mythological figures. They have been done to malnutrition, please find something else.

I had the opportunity to talk to a few Chola Artists and they were all disgruntled and none of them show there any more. And they are established artists who constantly show at galleries around town, just not here.
Says much doesn't it....