Dwija Art Gallery is Bengaluru’s newest address for beauty

With Sentient, Dwija Art Gallery arrives on Bengaluru’s art scene

Much to the delight of art lovers in Bengaluru, there is now yet another space in the city where beauty can be displayed at its brightest. Inaugurated on February 2, Dwija opened its doors to the public with Sentient, an art exhibition showcasing the works of 10 artists from around the country.

The Dwija Art Gallery is located in a 128-year-old bungalow with an architectural charm that lends to the works of art within. The gallery has been opened by the Dwija Conservation Society of Art and Cultural Heritage, with over 30 years of experience in the field of conservation and restoration, in collaboration with Grafiprint Private Limited.

“The space has a lot of history in itself, with a narrative that is something to reminisce about; it adds to the dynamics of exhibits within,” says Ayushi, executive curator of the gallery.

The villa sparkles in the sunlight and the minimal, yet tasteful landscaping is welcoming. Once inside, a comforting sense of spaciousness emanates from the high ceilings and the marked lack of anything else that is not a part of the exhibition. Less is certainly more at Dwija Art Gallery.

Old-time residents of the city would no doubt be pleased to see the basic beauty of the structure has been retained. The tiled roof with slots for sunlight finished in teak and rosewood are no longer a common sight in the city.

“Going forward, we plan to open this space to musical and theatrical performances. We hope to accommodate art and cultural events in this space,” adds Ayushi.

Three large, adjoining rooms lead into a long hall where a skylight of sorts bathes the area with a natural glow. The site was formerly a printing press and some of its cloth-bound volumes and shelving are a part of the reading room and library at Dwija, along with sepia-tinted tomes and black-and-white photographs of the city, as well as popular comic books of the 90s.