A SCULPTURAL
AFFAIR
Lina Vincent Sunish

RMZ Ecoworld in Bangalore unveiled their sculpture park initiative in July 2017, opening out the possibility for thousands of office goers and general public to come in contact with art works of considerable beauty and aesthetic value. 

There is an unfailing sense of awe engendered by viewing a monumental, larger than life sculpture or art installation. The opportunities to access such experiences in public, urban India are currently few, and limited to the large metros. Our built world today is often characterised by a sense of (con) fusion – a single street or area may reflect several architectural styles, from those that carry traditional elements to those with colonial heritage, and finally sleek modern high-rise construction. Public sculptures, as much as they exist, are concentrated on state sponsored statues of politically and historically important personages. In a country that showcases classically fine examples of a perfect blend of architecture and sculpture, much of it monumental, there are surprisingly few takers in contemporary times. Corporate entities are slowly however emerging as important players attempting to bridge the gap, and many of those engaged in the building professions experiment with the inclusion of sculpture within architectural planning, and in common public spaces. 

RMZ Ecoworld in Bangalore unveiled their sculpture park initiative in July 2017, opening out the possibility for thousands of office goers and general public to come in contact with art works of considerable beauty and aesthetic value.

Paresh Maity’s bronze bull sculpture “Force” attracts attention at the centre of the lower courtyard surrounded by landscaped spaces and cobbled pathways leading towards the built areas. Standing solitarily in a windblown lawn placed between sheer walls of two high-rises, Jayasri Burman’s earthy narrative sculpture “Dharitri” injects elements of nature and organic growth into the linear technologically manufactured structures.

“G Ravinder Reddy, Dhruva Mistry, Paresh Maity, Arunkumar HG and Jayasri Burman. The Gallery is currently hosting ‘Heads and Bodies, icons and idols’ A Solo Show of Sculptures by Ravinder Reddy with a body of works that have never been showcased before.The objective of the Foundation has been to give back to the ecosystem that we benefit from. Art being is one such initiative which will find more than one reason for our community to engage, collaborate and expand the awareness of art and its appreciation in our community and nationwide. We are collaborating with emerging Indian artists and artists from around the world to plan and install their works in sculpture parks across our RMZ assets including cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai in the next 24-36 months. The endeavour is to have at least 60 installations over the next 5 years.” – Anu Menda, Managing Trustee, RMZ Foundation