sP+A's hampi art labs in india unfolds with an undulating architecture

sP+A’s Hampi Art Labs to open in India

Positioned adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi, India, the forthcoming Hampi Art Labs designed by Sameep Padora, the founder and principal of sP+A architectural practice, is set to open its doors in February 2024. Spanning an expansive 18-acre area, this art center offers artists various production facilities, spaces for creative work, and galleries for displaying art, including exhibition spaces, studios, residency apartments, gardens, and a café. Founded by Sangita Jindal and Tarini Jindal Handa, Hampi Art Labs is an initiative of the JSW Foundation, seamlessly blending art, heritage, and nature. Its design integrates smoothly with the natural landscape, paying tribute to its surroundings using organic forms and locally sourced materials. Its facilities cater to various artistic workshops such as printmaking, sculpture in stone and metal, ceramics, and new media, fostering a connection between artists and the region’s rich craft traditions. Sangita Jindal shared with designboom their vision, stating: ‘With the inauguration of this first of its kind arts center in India, we aim to increase cultural links across the Global South and provide an international platform for contemporary Indian arts and culture.’

exterior shot of Hampi Art Labs, 2023, courtesy of JSW Foundation

Embracing Art, Heritage, and Nature

The inception of the art center by Sameep Padora associates (sP+A) draws inspiration from the historical significance of Vijayanagar, the erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagar Kingdom, mirroring an era when art, architecture, and literature flourished from the 14th to the 16th centuries. Sangita Jindal reflects on her connection to Hampi: ‘I have had a great affinity to the ancient city of Hampi since I first visited in 1983 and am delighted to now be able to connect contemporary art with heritage and nature. The project is also inspired by my mother Urmila Kanoria who founded one of the first residency programmes in India at the Kanoria Centre for Arts in Ahmedabad in 1984.’ Tarini Jindal Handa highlighted the collaborative efforts behind Hampi Art Labs, noting: ‘We have worked together to ensure Hampi Art Labs’ set-up and ongoing programming benefits both artists and neighboring communities, enabling artists to learn from the region’s local craft and culture.’ Tarini Jindal Handa describes Hampi Art Labs as a sanctuary that encourages a cross-disciplinary approach to art-making, aiming to engage with the region’s heritage and artisanal legacy while celebrating India’s contemporary art scene. ‘By inviting artists to work in a local setting, Hampi Art Labs will be able create new lenses and unique languages to revisit Indian heritage. Contemporary artists will be able to work with a sensibility toward our country’s varied raw materials, placed in dialogue within a region that is richly replete with local craft culture and legacy.’

interior shot of Hampi Art Labs, 2023, courtesy of JSW Foundation

The inaugural exhibition, Right Foot First, draws from the Jindal Collection spanning 1998 to 2023, featuring renowned artists like Andy Warhol, Ai Weiwei, Atul Dodiya, and others. This exhibition intertwines artists across time periods and movements, encapsulating pivotal moments in Indian contemporary art over the past quarter-century. The center aims not only to serve as a cultural hub but also to forge international cultural connections through its residency programs and collaborations with institutions. As Sangita Jindal emphasizes, ‘It will be a major contribution to arts infrastructure and production facilities in the country and a cultural destination for both local and international visitors.’ The exhibition is designed to provide visitors with a fluid experience, allowing them to navigate the space in a way that mirrors the organic flow of the river systems surrounding ancient Hampi. This design concept aims to evoke an understanding that time, history, and the creative process are not rigidly linear.

Interior shot of Hampi Art Labs, 2023, courtesy of JSW Foundation

Future exhibitions will feature new commissions and loans curated by guest curators, responding to the center and its surroundings or in collaboration with former residency participants. The inaugural residency cycle will host Bhasha Chakrabarti, Sharbendu De, Madhavi Gore, Promiti Hossain, and Anirudh Singh Shaktawat.

exterior shot of Hampi Art Labs, 2023, courtesy of JSW Foundation