Over the weekend, EON Hyderabad, a new high-rise office space in the Financial District, hosted HYD.ART 2025, positioning itself as one of Hyderabad’s largest art showcases. On view were artworks by contemporary Indian masters, emerging artists, with a spotlight on yesteryear Telugu artists. There were workshops, panel discussions and documentary screenings.
Annapurna Madipadiga, curator of HYD.ART 2025 and founder of EkChitra, who has conducted exhibitions in art galleries and offbeat venues such as Spirit Connect film production house and T-Works, says she is on the lookout for venues that can make art accessible to people in different parts of the city. “I look for spaces that can make art interesting and spark curiosity.”
In January 2024, when she hosted Hue, a multi-disciplinary show at Spirit Connect near Ramanaidu Studios, Film Nagar, the space was transformed to resemble a temporary gallery, with lighting that accentuated the artworks.
“It took me months to finalise the venue. When I pitched the idea to Rana’s (Daggubati) team, they were welcoming. Designing a show at a non-gallery venue is challenging. The space has to resonate with the show’s narrative.”
In the past, she has curated large-format shows such as Chitram at the spacious State Gallery of Art, Madhapur. However, she observes that occasionally taking art outside a conventional gallery creates an element of surprise for visitors.
Art and the IT hubs
In February 2025, she curated Living Temple, a three-day festival of art, heritage and architecture at T-Works, Rai Durg, and observed how IT sector employees as well as the housekeeping staff were taken in by the paintings, sculptures, installations and interactive exhibits. “A few corporates said they came to see the show instead of attending meetings,” she laughs. “The staff was also enthusiastic and asked when we would organise another show.”
For such shows, the inaugural day would have an attendance of well known artists and art enthusiasts. Gradually, the newer audience walks in. “In the case of T-Works, which is surrounded by tall, concrete buildings, art adds a new aesthetic,” says Annapurna.
She observes that unlike New Delhi’s India Habitat Centre, Bikaner House or Triveni Sangam, Hyderabad’s art shows are often limited to galleries. “Just as retail chains open branches across an ever-expanding city, art and cultural events need to explore new venues to make it easier for people who want to avoid long, traffic-heavy commutes.”
Targeting young buyers
A view of RMZ The Loft during the Hyderabad edition of India Art Fair
| Photo Credit:
India Art Fair/Special Arrangement
This November, India Art Fair hosted IAF EDI+IONS Hyderabad, its first in the city at RMZ The Loft, Rai Durg. Jaya Asokan, director of the fair, says the choice of venue at the heart of Hyderabad’s IT hub, was intentional.
“We wanted younger professionals working here to consider art as a meaningful long-term investment, and to see themselves as the next generation of collectors. Equally significant was the fact that the RMZ Foundation is a patron of the arts, with a substantial collection spanning contemporary South Asian and international practices. Upon entering the building, works by Shilpa Gupta and Bhuri Bai frame the experience.”
She agrees that organising an event within a non-traditional exhibition space required careful consideration about the display, flow, and lighting. But it offered an advantage. “We included a guided RMZ art tour, which allowed visitors to engage with works across the campus and, importantly, signalled to a wider audience the presence of collectors within the city, operating beyond gallery or museum contexts.”
Visitors at the Hyderabad edition of India Art Fair
| Photo Credit:
Praveen/Special Arrangement
While IAF’s debut edition in Hyderabad was conceived as an invite-only programme to allow visitors ample time to engage with the artworks and interact with gallerists, the IAF team did not turn away groups that walked in.
The team observed how a few enthusiasts spent nearly a day at the art fair. This, Jaya observes, was easier since visitors could step out for lunch at the several dining options within the campus and re-enter the exhibition. “That ease encouraged sustained engagement rather than rushed consumption.”
The IAF hopes to return to Hyderabad and tap the younger, emerging art collector base through initiatives such as the Young Collectors’ Programme.
Less intimidating
Miheeka Daggubati at Spirit Media premises during an exhibition.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Miheeka Daggubati, who founded Art Connect and hosted shows at Spirit Connect, says unusual venues make art less intimidating. “Those who are not clued into art may hesitate to walk into a gallery, thinking they do not know enough. I started Art Connect to make art accessible to more people. In the exhibitions we have hosted, the effort has been to showcase different formats — paintings, sculptures, installations, and assemblage. The stories that accompany each artwork help visitors understand and appreciate art better. We also had curated walks discussing the theme and individual artworks. With time, visitors discover what form of art they are inclined to.”
Miheeka notes that offering ancillary sessions, such as talks on investing in art, is also beneficial. “In addition, viewing an artwork in a space that is not a traditional gallery helps potential buyers imagine how it would look at their office or home.”
Public installations
Art showcases beyond galleries is essentially not a new idea. An example would be the curated shows and public art installations at the annual Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF). Art has been a part of HLF in its several venues — Hyderabad Public School, Vidyaranya High School, Saptaparni, or Sattva Knowledge City. The HLF 2026 will be held from January 24 to 26 at Sattva Knowledge City.
Established art galleries and the Salar Jung Museum will always hold pride of place among art enthusiasts. However, the trend of art reaching out to newer enthusiasts through unusual venues will continue to thrive.
Published – December 25, 2025 03:35 pm IST
