Hampi Art Labs.
Photo: COURTESY OF SAMEEP PADORA & ASSOCIATES (SP+A)
Discover a New Arts Center in India Located at a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Designed by sP+a, the cutting edge design space dubbed Hampi Art Labs takes design inspiration from the ruins and landscape of the historic site nearby
Art, nature, and heritage collide at Hampi Art Labs, a visionary new contemporary art center located in the southwest Indian state of Karnataka. Founded by collector and patron Sangita Jindal, the space comprises flowing, sinuous terra-cotta forms that echo the hills and river. With a mission to support artists from the Global South, the program provides residencies with cutting-edge art-making facilities and hosts large-scale exhibitions. Designed by Indian architect Sameep Padora, founder-principal of sP+a, the aim of the structure was to appear as though it was “born from its surroundings”.
Hampi Art Labs. Photo: COURTESY OF SAMEEP PADORA & ASSOCIATES (SP+A)
Hampi Art Labs is being launched by the JSW Foundation, the social development arm of the JSW Group, founded and led by the Jindal family. A popular tourist destination, Hampi was once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, which ruled between the 14th and 17th centuries. During that time,its leaders erected more than 1,000 monuments across Hampi, including beautiful, intricately carved stone temples, forts, memorial structures, and waterways. It is also a popular tourist destination for its striking geographical position set amongst boulder formations near the Tungabhadra river.
Installation view of "Right Foot First" (2023) at Hampi Art Labs. Photo: Courtesy of Hampi Art Labs
The inaugural show, “Right Foot First,” which closed in May, drew from Jindal’s extensive holdings and exhibited works by Indian artists such as Shilpa Gupta and Bharti Kher alongside pieces by international art stars like Andy Warhol and Ai Weiwei.
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2024 Summer Issue under the headline “The Artful Life.” Subscribe to the magazine.
Cover: Hampi Art Labs.
Photo: COURTESY OF SAMEEP PADORA & ASSOCIATES (SP+A)
