New book traces the evolution of India's public art movement

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A new book, “Art of Community”, documents more than a decade of India’s public art festivals and their role in turning everyday public spaces into centres of creativity, cultural exchange and community participation.

The book, by Yuj Foundation, traces the journey of the public art movement from its first festival in 2013 to a pan-India initiative involving multiple cities, institutions and communities.

Released on Tuesday at Taj Palace, it also highlights the potential of public art to reach wider audiences and inspire artists and cultural practitioners in India and abroad.

“At Yuj Foundation, we believe art has the power to transform everyday places into shared cultural experiences that foster creativity, dialogue and a sense of belonging. ‘Art of Community’ celebrates a decade of this journey and reaffirms our commitment to creating communities where culture is an integral part of everyday life,” Siddharth Yog, founding Patron, Yuj Foundation, said in a statement.

Through photographs, essays and accounts from participants, the book records how the festivals have brought together students, established artists, artisans, educators and local communities to transform public spaces into platforms for artistic expression and interaction.

“More than an archive of the journey so far, ‘Art of Community’ is a testament to the transformative power of public art and an invitation to imagine what it can achieve in the years ahead.” said Sumi Gupta, curator of ‘Dumas Art Project’, ‘Whitefield Art Collective’, ‘Punjab Art Initiative’, ‘Madras Art Guild’ and ‘Nagpur Kala Sangh’.

The movement began with the ‘Dumas Art Project’ in Surat in 2013 and has since expanded to Bengaluru, Chennai, Amritsar, Nagpur and Surat. It has so far organised 33 editions of Public Art Festivals, drawing more than 11 million visitors.

The initiative has also worked with prominent Indian art institutions, including Sir J.J. School of Art, MSU Baroda, Chitrakala Parishath and Lalit Kala Akademi, besides collaborating with several universities.

Its international engagements have included partnerships with UNESCO, the British Council, the Arts for the Future Festival in New York and other cultural organisations.

Compiled over a period of ten years with contributions from more than 50 people, “Art of Community” is intended to serve as the first volume in a growing archive documenting India’s public art movement.

The publication aims to bring together the history of the festivals, their institutional partnerships, perspectives from artists and communities, and accounts of the ways in which public art has become part of everyday cultural life.

Yuj Foundation’s grant-making programmes focus on initiatives undertaken directly or through social entrepreneurs and not-for-profit organisations in three broad areas — education, (de)urbanization and the arts.

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