Curated by VR Chennai and conducted by historian V. Sriram, the “Kathai, Kalai, Parampariyam” Walks trace the rich heritage of South India by way of art, design, and architecture. This special Margazhi edition of the walk will see Carnatic Music Maestro Ashwath Narayanan accompanying Mr. Sriram.
The Virtuous Retail philosophy of “Connecting Communities” draws from the concept of creating lifestyle centers that bring people together and strengthen social pride while reflecting local aesthetics. The process of translating Virtuous Retail’s design ethos and vision into reality has been backed by extensive research into the art, architecture, culture, and history of the region. As part of its commitment to encourage and nurture indigenous craft, VR Chennai has actively tried to engage with local artists and artisans. The collective of exquisite, specially commissioned artworks at VR Chennai, has been created in partnership with acclaimed artists and guilds such as Kalarings Art Studio, Cholamandal Artists’ Village, Klove Studio, Satish Gupta and Sri Sankara Silpa Sala, amongst others.
The Kathai walk explores the mythical tales of the Dasavataram, the 10 primary forms of Lord Vishnu, the inspiration of which stems from the discovery of the earliest known epigraph found in the Adi-Varaha Temple in Mahabalipuram. The Kalai walk showcases the indigenous art and architecture of the region through the multiple element that have been incorporated in the contemporary design of the center including the soaring Gopurams and their intricately carved bases, the pillared mandapams and various bell installations at each of the four entrances, all an ode to the traditional temple architecture with a contemporary and sometimes playful twist. Finally, the Parampariyam walk features a depiction of the tradition and history of this great city and stories behind them in the form of maps, motifs, coins and seals all etched into stone and a not-to-miss hand-painted mural, which traces the historical and cultural legacy of Chennai, detailing the evolution of the city from 250,000 BC through colonial-era till present day.
When: 14th of December 2019 | 10.30 am
Where: VR CHENNAI, Anna Nagar, Chennai.
