Hyderabad, August 26: EkChitra Art Gallery has opened a new and expansive art space in Hyderabad, adding a major venue to the city’s growing visual arts scene.
Founded by artist and curator Annapurna Madipadiga, the new gallery aims to support larger exhibitions and multidisciplinary cultural programmes.
The launch brought together art connoisseur and collector Anju Poddar, writer and director Deva Katta, and director Venkatesh Maha.
Art director and Yadadri temple architect Anand Sai also attended the event. Senior artists BA Reddy and Shankar Pamarthy joined members of Hyderabad’s art fraternity.
The new EkChitra offers flexible exhibition spaces for painting, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, photography, printmaking, installations and mixed media. It will also accommodate performances and interdisciplinary projects.
According to the gallery, its larger footprint will allow artists to present works at a greater scale. The space will also help curators develop exhibitions without the limits of smaller venues.
EkChitra plans to work with both emerging and established artists. It will bring traditional practices and contemporary forms into the same exhibition programme. Moreover, the gallery plans to host artist interactions, workshops, screenings, educational programmes and public conversations.
The new venue also houses a permanent printmaking studio. The facility will support artists who want to explore printmaking. It will also create opportunities for learning, experimentation and exchange.
EkChitra Expands Its Cultural Programme
The gallery has opened with Transition: A Continuity to Change, An Ode to Identities in Flux. The exhibition brings together young artists from across India. Their works include textiles, sculpture, painting, ceramics and printmaking.
The exhibition explores identity, tradition, cultural memory and transformation. The participating artists use different materials and methods to examine changing artistic identities.
The programme also reflects EkChitra’s broader vision. The gallery intends to bring fine art, craft and other creative practices into shared curatorial spaces.
Venkatesh Maha congratulated Annapurna Madipadiga on the new initiative. He described the venue as a space that could encourage interaction between artists and audiences. He also said he looked forward to participating in future programmes.
Deva Katta said he hoped the gallery would become a landmark for art and creativity. He also expressed hope that it would build a strong community of artists and art lovers.
Madipadiga said EkChitra developed gradually through exhibitions, collaborations and conversations. She said the new venue emerged from the need for a larger space that could support exhibitions and wider cultural engagement.
The gallery also plans programmes that connect art with the cultural history of the Telugu states. These initiatives will explore architecture, literature, music, crafts, temple traditions, Deccani influences and folk practices.
One planned initiative is Living Temple, Edition 2. It will continue EkChitra’s exploration of heritage spaces as living cultural environments.
Another planned programme, Keerthanam, will focus on the history of art in the Telugu states. The initiative will highlight regional artistic histories and cultural narratives.
EkChitra is also developing Baoli Art Sangam, an art biennale centred on historic stepwells. The proposed programme will combine site specific artworks, exhibitions, performances, workshops and heritage walks.
It will also include talks and community programmes. The initiative seeks to connect contemporary art with heritage, water, architecture, ecology and conservation.
The gallery said residencies and knowledge sharing programmes are also being explored for the future. These plans could further expand interaction among artists, designers, architects, researchers, collectors and cultural practitioners.
MSN Realty and speciality restaurant Anaganaga Telugu Culinary Tales supported the launch of the new gallery.
With its larger exhibition spaces, permanent printmaking studio and multidisciplinary programme, EkChitra seeks to strengthen Hyderabad’s cultural infrastructure. The gallery also aims to create more opportunities for artists and audiences to engage through exhibitions, learning and participation.
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