{"id":155463,"date":"2023-04-14T18:09:57","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T18:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/culture.org\/?p=155463"},"modified":"2023-04-14T18:09:57","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T18:09:57","slug":"indias-new-museum-of-art-and-photography-promises-to-redefine-the-countrys-museum-landscape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/culture.org\/art-and-culture\/indias-new-museum-of-art-and-photography-promises-to-redefine-the-countrys-museum-landscape\/","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s New Museum of Art and Photography Promises to Redefine the Country\u2019s Museum Landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"           <!--  <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n                jQuery(document).ready(function() {\r\n                    jQuery(\".key-accordion-item .key-menu\").on(\"click\", function() {\r\n                        if (jQuery(this).parent().hasClass(\"active\")) {\r\n                            jQuery(this).next().slideUp();\r\n                            jQuery(this).parent().removeClass(\"active\");\r\n                        } else {\r\n                            jQuery(\".key-content\").slideUp();\r\n                            jQuery(\".key-accordion-item\").removeClass(\"active\");\r\n                            jQuery(this).parent().addClass(\"active\");\r\n                            jQuery(this).next().slideDown();\r\n                        }\r\n                    });\r\n                })\r\n            <\/script> -->\r\n\r\n\r\n            <!-- start html -->\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"news-key-takeaway-wapper\">\r\n                                <span style=\"background-color:#4db2ee;\">Key Takeaways<\/span>\r\n                <ul class=\"news-key-nbox\" style=\"border-color:#4db2ee;background-color:rgba(77, 178, 238, 0.1);\">\r\n                                                        <li>India's Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) is a private institution that focuses on eroding the distinction between \"fine\" art and what it describes as \"everyday creativity,\" making art accessible and sidestepping the perception that art galleries are elitist institutions.<\/li>\r\n                                                                    <li>MAP aims to dismantle hierarchies between high and low art, make the museum as inclusive as possible by incorporating a rich tapestry of diverse voices and collapsing the divisions between mediums, and reframe the narrative of Indian art history from an Indian perspective.<\/li>\r\n                                                                    <li>MAP's exhibitions aim to counter biases and reflect the museum's concern with overlooked narratives. For instance, the exhibition \"Visible\/Invisible\" explores how females have been depicted as goddesses, mothers, nurturers, and commodities over the centuries and presents, then deconstructs, this male gaze.<\/li>\r\n                                                                    <li>MAP's digital offerings include video workshops, webinars, and an online encyclopedia of South Asian art with over 2,000 entries overseen by expert scholars, explicitly targeting young people in a country where over a quarter of the population is aged 14 or under.<\/li>\r\n                                                                    <li>MAP's focus on inclusivity, accessibility, and community engagement make it a unique institution that seeks to redefine what a museum can be, poised to become a leading cultural institution in India and beyond. Its emphasis on embracing new technologies to enhance the visitor experience and reach younger audiences makes it an exciting addition to India's cultural landscape.<\/li>\r\n                                                <\/ul>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            \n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) is set to be the country\u2019s first major art museum dedicated to the full range of the subcontinent\u2019s contemporary visual culture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The museum\u2019s focus is on eroding the distinction between \u201cfine\u201d art and what it describes as \u201ceveryday creativity\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A private institution, MAP\u2019s founder and philanthropist, Abhishek Poddar, has amassed a 60,000-item collection that ranges from ancient bronzes and carved deities to Bollywood memorabilia and traditional woven fabrics.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MAP\u2019s five-story building features galleries, an auditorium, a conservation center, and a research library. It is located in Bengaluru, the heart of the country\u2019s museum district.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With its prominent location, private funding, and significant digital presence, MAP is already transforming the country\u2019s museum landscape by making art accessible and sidestepping the perception that art galleries are elitist institutions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Community Engagement Is Key<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the main drivers of MAP\u2019s approach is its focus on reaching and connecting with the local community.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The museum\u2019s exterior, for instance, features a spray-painted, monochrome mural by street artist Marco Santini, consisting of words submitted from the community, including \u201cmeaningful,\u201d \u201cmirror,\u201d and \u201cinspiration.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, much of MAP is free to the public, with fees for ticketed exhibitions waived one afternoon per week.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The museum welcomes over a thousand visitors on each day of its opening weekend, demonstrating the interest and support for this much-anticipated institution.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Encouraging a \u201cMuseum-Going Culture\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poddar hopes that MAP will serve as a catalyst in developing a more regular museum-going culture in India by encouraging the public to engage with art more thoughtfully in their home country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He aims to dismantle hierarchies between high and low art, making the museum as inclusive as possible by incorporating a rich tapestry of diverse voices and collapsing the divisions between mediums.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MAP aims to reframe the narrative of Indian art history from an Indian perspective, which is clear in its opening displays.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, the exhibition \u201cVisible\/Invisible,\u201d curated by Kamini Sawhney, the museum\u2019s director, explores the representation of women throughout Indian art history.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Inclusive Exhibitions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MAP\u2019s exhibitions aim to counter biases and reflect the museum\u2019s concern with overlooked narratives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The \u201cVisible\/Invisible\u201d exhibition explores how females have been depicted as goddesses, mothers, nurturers, and commodities over the centuries. However, they were until recently viewed exclusively through the eyes of men, explained Sawhney.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The exhibition aims to present, then deconstruct, this male gaze. The works on display range from ancient statues depicting goddesses to a poster for the 1957 Bollywood epic \u201cMother India,\u201d which imagines its heroine as a plough-wielding nationalist symbol of post-colonial India.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The exhibition features six original works commissioned to help fill gaps in the canon, including a quilt by non-binary artist Renuka Rajiv and a video work by LGBTQ collective Payana that was created in collaboration with transgender people aged 50 and above.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>                        <!-- <div class=\"container-c\"> -->\r\n                        <!-- <div class=\"row justify-content-between\"> -->\r\n                        <!-- <div class=\"col-post-800\"> -->\r\n                        <!-- start html -->\r\n                        <div class=\"blockquote-wapper\">\r\n                            <div>\r\n                                <span class=\"text_quot\">\r\n                                    <p>The exhibition aims to present, then deconstruct, this male gaze. The works on display range from ancient statues depicting goddesses to a poster for the 1957 Bollywood epic \u201cMother India,\u201d which imagines its heroine as a plough-wielding nationalist symbol of post-colonial India.<\/p>\n                                <\/span>\r\n\r\n                                <div class=\"quot_icon\">\r\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-content\/themes\/culture\/icons\/i_quot.svg\" type=\"image\/svg+xml\">\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n\r\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"quot_tick\" src=\"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-content\/themes\/culture\/icons\/i_quot_tri.svg\" type=\"image\/svg+xml\">\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                        <!-- end html -->\r\n                        <!-- <\/div> -->\r\n                        <!-- <\/div> -->\r\n                        <!-- <\/div> -->\r\n                                    <\/h2>\n<h2><strong>Engaging Young People through Technology<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MAP\u2019s digital offerings became a focal point after Covid-related delays pushed back the museum&#8217;s opening by over two years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The open-access digital offerings include video workshops, webinars, and an online encyclopedia of South Asian art with over 2,000 entries overseen by expert scholars.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The museum is explicitly targeting young people in a country where over a quarter of the population is aged 14 or under.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The museum\u2019s significant use of technology will ultimately aid in their mission of helping people understand why museums are still relevant today.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>AI at the Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most intriguing aspects of the Museum of Art and Photography is its use of technology, specifically artificial intelligence (AI), to enhance the visitor experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One such example is the collaboration with global IT services company Accenture to create a 3-D hologram of the late artist M.F. Hussain, one of India&#8217;s most renowned painters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This project utilizes AI to bring Hussain back to life, allowing visitors to interact with him both online and in the museum&#8217;s physical space.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another fascinating exhibit at the museum is &#8220;Chirag-e-AI,&#8221; a solo show by contemporary artist Tallur L.N. The exhibition features a series of sculptures and a video that draw upon ancient Hindu mythology and contemporary narratives around AI.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the pieces, based on the half-man, half-animal creature Purushamriga, explores how machines that were designed to imitate human beings are being upgraded continuously to match human beings. The artist sees AI as having &#8220;the power to both help and destroy.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Digital Presence and Accessibility<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Museum of Art and Photography has a robust online presence, which became even more important during the pandemic when physical visits to museums were restricted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Launched in December 2020, MAP was one of the first digital museums in India. Its online offerings include virtual exhibitions, artist talks, and VR experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MAP Academy, an expansive online resource that makes South Asian art histories digitally available, including online courses and an art history encyclopedia, is another aspect of the museum&#8217;s online presence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most exciting things about MAP&#8217;s digital presence is its potential to make art accessible to a wider audience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With many of its resources being offered for free, the museum is breaking down barriers that have traditionally kept people away from art galleries and museums.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The focus on digital accessibility is also a way to reach younger audiences. With over a quarter of the Indian population being 14 or under, MAP&#8217;s digital resources are an excellent way to engage with the next generation of museum-goers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Museum of Art and Photography is an exciting addition to India&#8217;s cultural landscape. Its emphasis on inclusivity, accessibility, and community engagement make it a unique institution that seeks to redefine what a museum can be.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With a focus on erasing the divide between high and low art, as well as embracing new technologies to enhance the visitor experience, MAP is poised to become a leading cultural institution in India and beyond.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The opening exhibition, &#8220;Visible\/Invisible,&#8221; sets a powerful tone for the museum&#8217;s mission, challenging traditional narratives around the representation of women in Indian art history.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the museum continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how it continues to engage with and reflect the diverse cultural landscape of India.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":155464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[410],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-155463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-and-culture"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155463"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155463\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/culture.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}