Lutyens' Delhi To Get Sculpture District

Time of India

20 hours ago

New Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council unveiled its cultural renaissance plan, beginning with the launch of a pilot project to transform the area from the Mandi House roundabout to the Copernicus Marg-Travancore House stretch till KG Marg into a sculpture art district.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The work will start in Oct-Nov.
The stretches will showcase works by 15 distinguished artists, including Gujarat's Raghav Kaneria, Kerala's KS Radhakrishnan, Delhi's Ved Nair, Arun Pandit and Biman Bihari Das, and Jammu and Kashmir's Rajendra Tikku at selected spots with illumination, beautified surroundings and descriptive plaques in phase I. Works representing the legacies of the late Satish Gujral and Nagji Patel will also be present.
The initiative aims to make notable artistic works accessible to the public, beyond the confines of museums and art galleries, said NDMC vice-chairman Kuljeet Chahal, who is working on the project from the beginning. "The initiative to promote art and culture in Lutyens' Delhi aligns with the Prime Minister's vision for Vikshit Bharat by 2047. The sculpture art district will span across key cultural landmarks, including Mandi House, National School of Drama, FICCI Auditorium, Shri Ram Centre, India Gate-National Gallery of Modern Art, Hyderabad House, Travancore Bhawan and Triveni Kala Sangam," he said.
"Eight artists have given confirmation and large-scale sculptures, each ranging from 10-15 feet in height, will be installed," Chahal said. The sculptures will be made of bronze, stone or stainless steel with a lifespan of 100 years with limited maintenance. To ensure quality and contextual relevance, NDMC has formed an advisory committee under former NGMA chairman Harsh Vardhan Sharma.
An art symposium will be held featuring both national and international sculptors, who will create artworks for a proposed sculpture park in Nehru Park.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
It will also have creations of pioneering sculptor Ramkinkar Baij. Fifteen distinguished sculptors, including five from abroad, will take part in it. "Many of them are recipients of Padma and other national awards," said Chahal.
The projects are components of NDMC's broader strategy to establish Lutyens' Delhi as an artistic centre, comparable to renowned global art cities such as Yorkshire and London, with an allocation of Rs 40 crore, 1% of the civic body's total budget.
Several embassies have also expressed their willingness to participate in these initiatives.
A national painting symposium, inviting 15 eminent painters from across the country, will also be invited to participate in a creative residency. The resulting artworks will be showcased in a curated exhibition and later displayed at various NDMC venues to enhance public spaces with rich visual storytelling.
A site will be identified at Khan Market to help younger artists display and sell their artworks.
The recently renovated Srijan Open Art Gallery in Nehru Park, to be inaugurated in July, will let young artists or national awardees display their work. NDMC is also working to sign an MoU to organise music, dance and folk art, and puppet and theatre shows.
"Many forms of art are confined to galleries or closed spaces and are inaccessible to the common man. This public art project will bring creativity into open spaces where people can see, experience and connect with it," said Chahal. "It will also inspire students and the younger generation to learn, engage and take pride in India's cultural wealth. These efforts will significantly boost cultural tourism and create opportunities for global cultural exchange.
"