Rumale centenary retrospective at NGMA

Mainly a self-taught artist, Chennabasavaiah had captured on canvas the floral greenscape and gracious old buildings of Bangalore. His paintings had the ambience of the City in their grasp.

The colours and forms that dominated his paintings are still visible in parts of modern day Bangalore, a nostalgic reminder of an ideal world that is both inclusive and complex. The artist’s experiences as a Satyagrahi had directed his approach to life and art.

While most of the works are from the collection of Sanjay Kabe at the Rumale Art Gallery, the other works are from the Venkatappa Art Gallery, Vidhana Soudh and the Bangalore University.

The exhibition is also being publicised by two BMTC Volvo buses wrapped in images of his works, and by BBMP hoardings at various places in the City.

The exhibition will be pepped up with thought-provoking outreach programmes including walks, panel discussions, talks and film screenings. The NGMA has also arranged an Art Walk, with the help of INTACH, during which the participants will see Bangalore’s landmarks as painted by Rumale and as they are today.

The NGMA Bangalore was launched on February 2009, and is the third of its kind after New Delhi and Mumbai.