Learn: Adult Audiences

A glimpse into how the institution of the museum is being reimagined and reinvented today.

Exploring the role art collectives play in transforming cities and its residents.

This episode of MAP’s series Director’s Cut features Jorrit Britschgi, Executive Director of the Rubin Museum of Art in New York, in conversation with the Director of MAP, Kamini Sawhney.

Mitchell A K Crites records some of his experiences over the last half-century interacting with the folk, tribal and traditional artists of India.

Learn how to create a musical composition from the city soundscape that surrounds you in this workshop with Yoel Genin.

Finding the value and joy in engaging with art with historian and educator, Ben Street

Explore the evolution of Bengaluru lingo with influencers Sonu Venugopal, Shreyas Rao, and Sriram Sullia.

A panel discussion that explores the role of audience research in the arts and culture sector and how this data can be harnessed effectively.

Is Krishna always blue? What is Indian yellow? Why are the margins of so many Rajput paintings painted a brilliant red? Dr. Kavita Singh (Professor of Art History at the School of Arts and Aesthetics of Jawaharlal Nehru University) presents a window into the rich and complex world of colour in miniature paintings. Discover new...

Two people, one artist: Gilbert and George in conversation with Shilpa Vijayakrishnan.

Rediscover Bangalore’s iconic single screen cinema halls with Sameer Raichur and Prof. SV Srinivas.

Explore and empower your culinary language, vision and experience with Dr. Nandita Iyer.

Stuart Freedman and Alana Hunt talk to Varun Nayar about exploring the social and political through the lens of the personal.

This episode of MAP’s Director’s Cut series features Marie-Cécile Zinsou, the President of the Fondation Zinsou in conversation with the director of MAP, Kamini Sawhney.

Discover exciting stories about the history of studio photography in India with MAP's archivist Prachi Gupta.

The makers of the iconic Amul girl advertisements share their creative journey.

Ankit Vengurlekar, Dr Dhiren Borisa and Smita Vanniyar discuss the evolving cultures of love, dating and digital intimacy.

Andreas Ahrens, Director of the Disgusting Food Museum, in conversation with Shilpa Vijayakrishnan about how the idea for the Museum came about and the qualifications for a ‘disgusting’ food.

Discover the basics of food photography and refine your 'foodstagramming game' with stylist and photographer Rakhee Yadav.

Anumitra Ghosh Dastidar and Srishtaa Aparna Pallavi chat with Suresh Jayaram about evolving food cultures.

Join our Director, Kamini Sawhney, on an exploration of some highlights from the MAP collection, as we together unlock the stories that these objects can tell.

In this conversation, Cecilia talks about the High Line in New York, and what it means to bring together horticulture, architecture and art in a multilayered experience for visitors.

Artists Paul Fernandes and Cop Shiva showcase their artistic work and explore the theme of what, to them, informs the identity of Bengaluru as a city. 

This discussion examines themes like togetherness in making kantha and how urban and rural practitioners or designers are reinventing textile practices.

The conversation examines body art as a living tradition, and unpacks the changing nature of contemporary tattoo culture in India.

In this talk, Dr. Sook-Kyung Lee shares how the Tate’s HTRC:T engenders curatorial questioning of the geopolitics of global art histories, as well the museum’s collections in a decolonial context.

The conversation looks to examine the cultural and political significance of different musical traditions and the diverse ways of archiving, conserving and sharing these practices and narratives whether through audio archives and libraries, research and films or performance. This session features documentary filmmaker Surabhi Sharma (director of Bidesia in Bambai and Jahaji Music), Namita Waikar (from the Grindmill Songs...

The Director’s Cut offers a glimpse into how the institution of the museum is being reimagined and reinvented today and presents a unique opportunity to hear from reputed practitioners in museums around the world.

Through the experiences of two independent women filmmakers, this talk explores multiple approaches to spotlighting the narratives of women in diverse urban and rural spaces, as well as the process and craft of non-fiction filmmaking.

Launching India’s first Artificial Intelligence-powered conversational digital persona, built as part of a collaboration between MAP and Accenture.

Hear directly from the curators of Bhuri Bai – My Life as an Artist on the process of putting together the online exhibition.

Directed by well-known filmmaker, Sumantra Ghosal, this series of short films takes a close look at select artworks in the museum’s collections.

As part of MAP’s Women in Art and Culture series, MAP presents a talk with multi-disciplinary designer and director Akhila Krishnan (representing Kadak Collective) and visual artist Indu Antony. 

This illustrated talk examines the impact of new technologies on the design and unique typology of cantilever seating, tracing different designers’ take on it over time.

As part of MAP’s Women in Art and Culture series, MAP presents four female theatre practitioners, Yuki Elias, Sharanya Ramprakash, Rashmi Ravikumar and Deepika Arwind in conversation with Lekha Naidu.

Zoya Siddiqui in conversation with curator and writer Anushka Rajendran, talking about her practice, material processes, and the stories, spaces and experiences that influence her work.

Dr Yashaswini Chandra, author of 'The Tale of the Horse: A History of India on Horseback' in conversation with equine veterinarian Dr. Hasneyn Mirza and Anirudh Kanisetti.

This panel discussion brings together three artistic practitioners who each work in a variety of mediums, including occasionally moving images.

This panel discussion brings together four experts in collections conservation to explore the contemporary state of the profession.

As part of MAP’s ongoing theme, Art is Life, we are pleased to present an illustrated presentation by Bakirathi Mani on her new book Unseeing Empire: Photography, Representation, South Asian America. The discussion that followed with Annu Palakunnathu Mathew focuses on her series An Indian from India, also featured in the book. Mani’s book and...

Manit Sriwanichpoom, Alisha Sett & Shan Bhattacharya in conversation; moderated by Varun Nayar.

A richly illustrated talk by Dr Annapurna Garimella that explores indigenous representations of the world around them.

Suhanya Raffel, Koyo Kouoh & Kamini Sawhney in conversation with András Szántó

This lecture by Navina Najat Haider explores the diverse artistic legacies of Islam through the encyclopedic collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

MAP is pleased to present the award winning artist of the piece, Tallur L. N., talking about his practice, what interests and influences him, and the key ideas and concerns that he returns to.

As part of its ongoing theme ‘Art (is) Life’ MAP brings together acclaimed Indian artists Atul Dodiya and Asim Waqif in a conversational first.

A special opportunity to hear directly from the curators of MAP’s online exhibition on Suresh Punjabi about the behind-the-scenes stories, the thought process of the exhibition, special highlights and more.

MAP presents the photographer, Suresh Punjabi of the Suhag Studio in conversation with Naveed Mulki delving deeper into the nature of the collaborative practice that informs Punjabi’s portraiture practice.

This film, directed by Naveed Mulki/ Faraway Originals, tells the remarkable story of a photography studio in central India, established by Suresh Punjabi in the 1970s.

As part of its ongoing theme, ‘Art (is) Life’ MAP is pleased to present a richly illustrated talk by Ganesh Shivaswamy.

V R Ferose and Vicky Roy in conversation⁠
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How can art help empower marginalised individuals and communities? What role can it play in awareness and exposure? What are the economic advantages it can offer? ⁠

What does it take to make a museum inclusive? ⁠
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Do you feel welcome in a museum? Is it a place that appeals to you and makes you feel like you belong?⁠
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No matter who you are, the answer should be YES!⁠

In continuation of its #InclusionAndDiversity theme, MAP presents a conversation between transgender rights activist, artist and entrepreneur, Kalki Subramaniam and Parmesh Shahani, author of “Queeristan: LGBTQ Inclusion in the Indian Workplace”. ⁠

MAP launches its theme of Inclusion & Diversity with a conversation between vocalist, writer and activist T M Krishna and leading scholar and author Suraj Yengde. ⁠
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The session explores the patterns of privilege and exclusion that shape access to cultural art forms and pursuits, raising questions of the ethical and representational issues implicit in art that reflects a hierarchical society. ⁠

Museums have played a significant role in preserving, promoting and displaying the arts, but they also have a very important role in supporting the arts and artists especially within their local environment.⁠
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This panel discussion explores how museums, especially in India, can work closely with the art community including the performing arts. How can museums assist in cultural rejuvenation, become hubs of creativity and use their collections to rejuvenate arts that are disappearing? And finally what should be the role of museums in preserving and supporting collections outside their spaces.⁠

In its last feature under the Creative Connections theme, MAP presents fashion designer David Abraham (of the fashion house Abraham & Thakore) in conversation with textiles designer and educator Aditi Ranjan, co-editor of Handmade in India, an encyclopaedic record of craft traditions across the length and breadth of the country. ⁠

Jonathan Gil Harris in conversation with Shilpa Vijayakrishnan⁠
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As part of its ongoing theme of Creative Connections, MAP is pleased to present acclaimed author, Jonathan Gil Harris, in conversation with MAP’s Education & Outreach Department lead, Shilpa Vijayakrishnan. ⁠

Alexander Gorlizki & Riyaz Uddin in conversation with Kamini Sawhney⁠
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As part of its ongoing theme ‘Creative Connections’, MAP presents artists, Alexander Gorlizki and Riyaz Uddin who have been working together for over two decades in a unique partnership that brings together influences and traditions from the East and West. The session, moderated by MAP Director Kamini Sawhney, explores their collaboration that is built not only upon the cross-cultural exchange of artistic thought and practice, but also an evolving personal friendship over time.

Traditions & Transitions: The Kalamkari Through Time

MAP launches its theme of Creative Connections, with textile artist Renuka Reddy in conversation with researcher, curator and collector Peter Lee. The duo explore the material histories of kalamkari in the subcontinent, through select works from the MAP Collection, providing insights into techniques, motifs and markets that shaped the evolution of this textile art across different cultures.

Abhishek Poddar, founder of MAP in conversation with Brian Kennedy as a guest on the Director’s Dialogue series.

Abhishek Poddar is a prominent collector and patron of the arts in India. He has been collecting art since high school and has created a significant collection of South Asian art, craft and antiquities, including modern and contemporary art and photography.

Redefining the Indian Museum: An Online Panel Discussion⁠
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ICOM defines a museum as a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment.⁠

The ‘godmother of performance art’, Marina Abramović burst onto the ’70s art scene with cathartic performances that pushed the envelope on spectator participation and personal safety in unexpected and unprecedented ways.

Naman. P. Ahuja spoke about his latest book Art and Archaeology of Ancient India: Earliest Times to the Sixth Century, Ashmolean Museum (Oxford, 2018).

As part of MAP’s Art & Culture Lecture Series – member of our advisory panel – Professor B N Goswamy gave an illustrated talk from his latest book:

A CANOPY OF ARROWS; A MOUNTAIN OF FIRE
Great Images from a Bhagavata Purana of the Mysore Court

Celebrated author, Anita Nair, shared about what compelled her to write stories and what made writing about women – their lives, inner worlds, as well as their relationships with men and other women – special.

Famed Bharatanatyam exponent, Malavika Sarukkai, in conversation with author and scientist Indira Brunner Chandrasekhar as part of our ‘Women in Art & Culture Lecture’ series

Max Pinckers uses improvisation to create images that are lively, unexpected, and simultaneously poetic belying the extensive preparation and rigour he brings to his craft. His approach to documentary photography emphasises the subjectivity of the artist. From tales of the serendipitous to the theatricality of the everyday encounters on the street, his talk will explore the stories that lie within photographs, and behind their making.

In this, the centenary year of one of Urdu literature’s brightest stars, Kaifi Azmi, a shayar, a rebel, a writer and a lyricist who has given the Hindi film industry some of its most iconic songs, BIC in collaboration with MAP, celebrates Kaifisaab with his daughter Shabana Azmi, in an evening of poetry, storytelling and guftagu.

Keeping in line with the month’s theme ‘Art as Witness’, MAP in association with the Bangalore International Centre (BIC), brought together two exemplary photographers of social action and change, Sebastião Salgado and Shahidul Alam, in a webinar hosted on 27 June. Moderated by Nathaniel Gaskell, the discussion centred on the photographic journeys of the acclaimed Brazilian and Bangladeshi photographers, and elaborated on the power of photography to catalyse social change. Through an unveiling of their personal journeys and experiences, the discussion also highlighted the positive influence of activism and the use of one’s voice against oppression.

Prominent actor and filmmaker, Nandita Das in conversation with journalist Kaveree Bamzai, spoke from her personal experiences on what it meant to be a ‘woman director’, while exploring the idea of a female gaze, the realities of sexism, and more.

⁠Keeping in line with the month’s theme ‘Art as Witness’, MAP in association with the Bangalore International Centre (BIC), is happy to share the first talk we hosted as part of the series: The Camera As Witness: The Truth of our Times.⁠

Photographers Prashant Panjiar and Fawzan Husain in conversation with columnist Akar Patel, explored the role of photojournalism, the nature of documentary photography and its significance in recording history as well as shaping the historical narrative.⁠