𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩-𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘍𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘪

• The Fourth Edition of ‘Madras Art Guild’ takes place from February 14 to March 16, 2025, at VR Chennai, with the theme ‘Transcending Boundaries”

Full report:

Chennai, 14 February 2025: The Madras Art Guild, supported by the Yuj Foundation, commenced its fourth edition on 14th February 2025. This year's theme is 'Transcending Boundaries'. Muneo Takahashi San, Consul-General of Japan in Chennai inaugurated the festival with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony and unveiling of the 'Kala Car'. A mesmerizing classical dance performance by Remya Nambeesan, a fashion show by Japanese multidisciplinary artist Kazuko Barisic San and an exclusive viewing of the exhibition at the Fine Art Gallery and Chennai Photo Biennale concluded the evening.

Over 1000 installations, sculptures, paintings, and photographs are displayed at the festival. The installations are by students of Annai Kamakshi Music and Fine Arts College, The Pupil School, Velammal Bodhi Academy, Chitravati Centre for Creativity, Brindavan Public School, Chennai, DaVenn Creations, and BVM Global School. The Kala Car has been created in collaboration with the award-winning artists Bhagwan Chavan and Pravin Kannanur. Transforming the walls of the basement at VR Chennai into an art gallery, The Basement Art Project displays the works of artists from Annai Kamakshi Music and Fine Arts College, Chitravati Centre for Creativity, Ology and Velammal International School. Over the next month VR Chennai will transform into a hub of artistic celebration, with installations, fine art, photography, exhibitions, music, art cinema, workshops, panel discussions, young artists competition and an artisanal bazaar. 

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This edition of the Madras Art Guild is driven by a series of significant collaborations, each contributing to the festival’s broader vision. As part of a  partnership  with UNESCO New Delhi, in the areas of STEM education and climate literacy, a stunning photo exhibition will be displayed based on their publication “A Braided River: 

Partnering with the Consulate General of Japan in Chennai, Madras Art Guild extends its cultural dialogue beyond borders, integrating Japanese art and culture to this year’s edition. Highlights include a fashion show blending the elegance of kimonos and the craftsmanship of sarees, a retrospective of renowned Japanese artist Shine Misako San, a serene Zen Garden display, an Ikigai Calligraphy workshop, Japanese cinema and a special J-pop and anime musical performance by a Japanese Minichestra. Spread throughout the month this collaboration serves as a bridge for cultural exchange, offering an immersive experience. 

An international collaboration with the New York based Arts for the Future Festival, powered by the United Nations Civil Society Conference, further amplifies our reach among the global audience. Both festivals share a commitment to creating an inclusive ecosystem for artists and creative practitioners, making this partnership a natural extension of Madras Art Guild.

“Rooted in Chennai’s rich artistic heritage, the Madras Art Guild is a tribute to the city’s enduring legacy of creativity and cultural discourse. Over the years, the festival has extended its scope to act as catalyst for cultural exchange and preservation through strategic partnerships with organizations like UNESCO, the Consulate General of Japan in Chennai and the New York-based Arts for the Future Festival (powered by the United Nations Civil Society Conference). 

As we embark on this edition of the Madras Art Guild, we look forward to cultivating global partnerships and providing new avenues for artists and audiences to connect, exchange ideas, and engage with the arts in ways that transcend borders.” said Sumi Gupta, curator of the Madras Art Guild.

“Humanity is facing an unprecedented challenge—the 'Triple Planetary Crisis' of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution—all of which threaten food, water, and energy security. Addressing these crises requires urgent action, with two critical priorities: empowering women in science and enhancing public knowledge and skills in climate resilience.

Women scientists and engineers bring invaluable creativity and expertise to the table. Increasing their participation is not just about equity—it’s about unlocking solutions that are essential for the future of our planet. The publication A Braided River: The Universe of Indian Women in Science and the exhibition, is a step toward fostering equal respect, pay, and opportunities for women in STEM fields globally. The ‘Climate Science Literacy’ exhibition, featuring a series of posters aims to make climate science accessible. Building climate literacy is key to preparing communities for the realities of a changing world, understand the root causes of climate change and the actions needed to mitigate its impact,” said Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia. 

“Madras Art Guild is a platform dedicated to artistic dialogue, creativity, and cultural exchange. Through our partnership, we are honored to bring Japan’s rich artistic traditions to Chennai, encompassing fashion, music, cinema, and craftsmanship. This collaboration not only strengthens the deep cultural ties between Japan and India but also aligns with the festival’s ethos of ‘Transcending Boundaries,’ enabling meaningful artistic interactions and cross-cultural appreciation. I sincerely hope that this will further enhance our future cultural exchange and people-to-people exchange," said Muneo Takahashi, Consul-General, from the Consulate-General of Japan in Chennai.

An exclusive collaboration with the Chennai Photo Biennale, unites two of Chennai’s leading art initiatives and features three notable exhibitions. ‘Hey!’ showcases works by differently abled individuals and neurodivergent artists, celebrating diverse creativity. Kaana Katral (Learning to See) presents visual stories by local students, while Portraits by Amar Ramesh honours Chennai’s Carnatic music legacy, featuring 50 musicians at 50 landmark locations. These exhibitions, aligned with the vision of the Madras Art Guild, blend large-scale prints and framed images to challenge perceptions of contemporary photography.

The festival includes an open call, exhibitions by senior photographers, and a panel discussion - Tamil New Wave and Transcending Boundaries, featuring filmmaker Vetrimaran, producer-writer Rajesh Rajamani, poet Muthu Kumarraja, and artist Jaising Nageswaran, exploring Tamil cinema’s evolution.

Each week at the festival is a dynamic experience, enriched by a diverse range of collaborative activities focused on different art forms, adding significant value to the art space. The Children’s Film Festival, is in collaboration with Chennai Photo Biennale and the British Council. The Book Wanderer’s Pluriverse by Flow India—an engaging visual and creative-making workshop designed for children, fostering creativity, storytelling, and visual literacy. The festival includes a puppetry workshop by Open House and a Literature Fest with a book fair and meet-and-greet sessions featuring renowned authors such as Gowri Ramnarayan, Anand Neelakantan, Anuja Chandramouli, Kalpana Manivannan, and Bhaswar Mukherjee. With participation from local artisans, the Art Bazaar will showcase paintings, sculptures, crafts, and live art, blending tradition and innovation. 

The Public Art Festivals have partnered with Art Reach, an NGO that works with artists to enrich the lives of vulnerable children, youth and women from marginalised communities in India, empowering participants through creativity and offering holistic learning experiences in the visual arts amplifying this through workshops as part of Madras Art Guild. 

The student artists at the Madras Art Guild will have the chance to be guided by renowned creators through the Public Art Festival’s Artist Mentorship Program, an initiative launched in 2023 to nurture emerging talent.

Collaborations with British Council, Nissan, Chitravati Centre for Creativity, Oology, Flow India, Global Art, Book Chor, Faabo events, Velammal International Schools, DaVenn Creations, and NOS have been pivotal in driving the growth and success of this edition.

Madras Art Guild, established in 2019, is a vibrant showcase of the diverse creative expressions, thought-provoking collaborations, and engaging experiences. By transforming public spaces into dynamic art hubs, the festival highlights its commitment to making art more accessible while celebrating Madras’s cultural identity. 

The festival has drawn over 3.06 million visitors. It is supported by The Yuj Foundation and is also part of VR Chennai’s Connecting Communities© initiative that aims to encourage civic pride, strengthen the local economy, and enhance the city’s national and international image.

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