22nd Chitra Santhe begins on Sunday with focus on girl child

Bengaluru: The much-anticipated 22nd Chitra Santhe art fair opens this Sunday, with preparations in full swing to welcome over four lakh visitors from across the country.

Each year, Chitra Santhe adopts a distinctive theme to inspire artists and foster creative expression. This year’s theme — The Girl Child — highlights the need to stand in solidarity against the abuse of women and girl children.

One of the key attractions is a 35-foot sculpture of a girl child’s face, crafted entirely from cardboard sheets. “This ambitious project showcases the power of teamwork,” said Prof Nayanjyoti Barman of the Department of Sculpture, who is leading the initiative. "Over 200 students, teachers, and staff have collaborated, contributing ideas, skills, and dedication to bring this vision to life.”

Pradeep RS, a student involved in the project, shared his experience: “Over seven days, the sculpture took shape, giving us invaluable hands-on experience with large-scale artwork. Beyond technical skills, it deepened our understanding of monumental art, emphasised resourcefulness with sustainable materials like cardboard, and underscored the significance of collective effort.”

T Prabhakar, Vice-President of Chitrakala Parishath, confirmed that the sculpture would be dismantled after the event. This year’s santhe will feature over 1,500 artists displaying their works across 1,450 stalls.

Given the rising number of participants each year, a committee is exploring alternative venues for future events. “However, hosting Chitra Santhe at Chitrakala Parishath holds historical and sentimental value,” Prabhakar noted.

The stalls will stretch from Windsor Manor Hotel to Shivananda Circle, with additional stalls set up on Crescent Road. Seva Dal Grounds will host exclusive stalls for senior citizen artists, ensuring an inclusive celebration of art.

Traffic diversions 

Anticipating a large gathering at the fair on Kumara Krupa Road on Sunday, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) have put in place traffic curbs and restricted the movement and parking of vehicles on certain stretches to facilitate easy movement. 

All types of vehicle movement on both sides of the road are prohibited from
Windsor Manor Junction to Shivananda Circle from 6 am to 9 pm.

Due to shortage of parking space around KK Road, public are requested to avail public transport like BMTC buses, metro, and cabs.