Madras Art Weekend

The second edition of Madras Art Weekend, scheduled between November 29 to December 3, will be a fertile ground for stimulating conversations, community engagement, inclusive partnerships and a space flowing with experiential and sensorial experiences.

The Madras Art Weekend is the first of its kind in the city of Chennai and this year, the five-day event has seen greater participation from galleries, artists and collectors. Visitors will experience artworks of over 100 artists from Chennai and beyond, two international artists and a series of talks and workshops that are designed with the aim of making art inclusive and engaging. The event will witness the participation of key players in the contemporary art scene and cultural organisations showcased against the backdrop of this ancient city.

MAW brings for the very first time to Chennai a four-week travelling show by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, curated by Roobina Karode encapsulating some stunning artworks from the old masters series and celebrated contemporary artists of our times. Another first is the Sutr Santati - Textiles of Tamil Nadu exhibition curated by textile revivalist Lavina Baldota, Vipin Das and Prabhu Viswanathan at Raw Mango. 

One of the main highlights of MAW is a site-specific installation ‘Auto’ by UK-based environmental artist Steve Messam. The auto-rickshaw placed at Shiv Nadar School will be unveiled on the opening day of the festival. The idea to have this auto-rickshaw filled with a giant inflatable form inside a school premises is to engage students in a continuous process of learning, as it encourages conversations about art.

MAW 2023 will host a series of interesting conversations, starting with a panel on November 30th by India Art Fair on Guardianship of Legacies with speakers such as Kiran Nadar (Chairperson of KNMA), HRH Radhikaraje Gaekwad (Maharani of Baroda) and Lavina Baldota (Textile Revivalist, Curator and Head of CSR at Baldota Foundation). This panel seeks to explore the past present and future of some of the most powerful women at the helm of the greatest legacies. There is also a conversation on Interdisciplinary Collaborations in Art, Design and Fashion on November 30th at the British Deputy High Commission which will feature Steve Messam (Environmental Artist), Clarke Reynolds (Braille Artist), Vikram Phadke (Interior Design Consultant) and Rochelle Pinto (Editor of Vogue India).

The theme of MAW 2023 is rooted in narratives around the community and illuminating the core values of compassion and connection. Kairassi, a non-profit that works with artists with disabilities will showcase a collection of thought-provoking and inspiring artworks created by 14 talented artists with disabilities, a live braille installation by Clarke Reynolds and a collection of sculptures created by students from the Mary Clubwala Jadhav School for the Deaf. MAW has also partnered with NalandaWay Foundation’s Art Vandi, a truck which travels around remote villages in Tamil Nadu, teaching art to children from marginalised communities. Artwork created by these children will be showcased at the Madras Literary Society.

“The intention to have Madras Art Weekend is to place Chennai on the cultural map. We have always envisioned MAW as a public event that engages closely with the community, fosters collaborative partnerships, and is inclusive and our outreach is deeply rooted in involving children because art is a beautiful way to see things from a different perspective,” says  Upasana Asrani, Founder of Madras Art Weekend.

“To make this edition exciting and inclusive, we have partnered with institutions, NGOs, museums, patrons of the arts, the diplomatic community and the local government, and most of all the people of Chennai and the guests of this wonderful city,” she adds. The activities are spread across the city at heritage sites and public spaces and will be accessible to everyone. Additionally, Madras Art Weekend is also looking forward to renewing its status as a Parallel to The India Art Fair.