Hampi Art Labs to Open in India in February 2024

Hampi Art Labs, a new interdisciplinary arts center inspired by the ancient Indian city of Hampi, will open in February 2024 in Karnataka, India. Founded by philanthropist and collector Sangita Jindal, president of the JSW Foundation, the institution is described by artistic director Tarini Jindal Handa as an "inclusive center" aimed at preserving regional heritage while celebrating contemporary Indian art. Designed by Mumbai-based architecture firm sP+a, led by Sameep Padora, the building uses local materials like earth, stone, and steel, and is set within a 70,000-square-meter park. It will feature studios, exhibition spaces, residency apartments, educational labs, and a café. The inaugural exhibition, "Right Foot First," will showcase works from the Jindal Collection (1998–2023), including pieces by Andy Warhol, Ai Weiwei, Atul Dodiya, and architect Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi. The exhibition is designed to evoke the fluid river systems around ancient Hampi. The first residency artists are Bhasha Chakrabarti, Sharbendu De, Madhavi Gore, Promiti Hossain, and Anirudh Singh Shaktawat. Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986, was a major cultural and religious center from the 14th to 16th centuries under the Vijayanagara Empire, with ruins of about 1,600 buildings. Jindal stated she has had a great affinity for Hampi since her first visit in 1983 and is happy to connect contemporary art with its heritage and nature.