Expressnews
Chennai, February 2026: The Madras Art Guild, supported by the Yuj Foundation, commenced its fifth edition on 12th February 2026, beginning a month-long public art festival themed ‘The Future is Now’. Renowned actress and classicaldancer Dr. Shobana (recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2025), inaugurated the festival with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony and unveiling of the ‘Kala Car’. The evening featured a classical dance performance by students of Kalarpana Institute of Bharatnatyam, followed by an exclusive viewing of art installations across VR Chennai including the fine art galleries.
Compared to 2025, which featured 1,000 exhibits, this year’sedition presents over 1,300 works of paintings, photographs, installations, and sculptures, making it the largestMadras Art Guild to date. Participating institutions include Government Fine Arts College – Kumbakonam, The Pupil Saveetha Eco School, Sri Cholamandal Artists Village, Annai Kamakshi music and fine arts college, Ology Tech School Chitravati Centre for Creativity and SA Film Academy (under SA Institutions). The Kala Car has been brought to life by Saravanan Senathipathi, President Progressive Painters Association at Cholamandal Artist Village and Executive Boardmember of Artist’s Handicraft Association at CholamandalArtists Village
Transforming the walls of the basement at VR Chennai into anart gallery, the basement art project displays works by artistsfrom Cholamandal Artists Village. Over the next month, VRChennai will transform into a hub for artistic programming, withinstallations, fine art, photography exhibitions, music, art cinema, workshops, young artists competition, and an artisanal bazaar.
This edition of the Madras Art Guild features a series of significant collaborations, each contributing to the festival’s broader vision. In partnership with UNESCO, the festival presents Pockets of Hope, a photography exhibition that draws attention to marine ecosystems, their ecological value, and the growing pressures they face. The collaboration extends into a 10-foot installation titled PORTALS, constructed using 250 kgs of recovered materials and water bottles collected from Chennai’s shoreline. Created by Art Kingdom, the installation encourages responsible consumption and waste disposal.
Extending its cultural dialogue beyond borders, the Madras Art Guild has partnered with the Consulate General of Japan in Chennai and Yamaha to present Love Piano. Created by Sarvanan Senathipathi, the installation invites audiences topause, play, and engage through live melody in a shared artistic experience.
Rooted in Chennai’s rich artistic heritage, the Madras Art Guild is a tribute to the city’s enduring legacy of creativityand its living tradition of cultural discourse. Over the pastfour editions, the art festival has redefined how public art is experienced, growing into a more layered format that reflects Chennai’s expanding spectrum of creative voices.This year’s theme, The Future is Now,
encourages artists to respond to the present withimagination and intent, as the future takes shape through everyday choices. Madras Art Guild 2026, sets a new direction, bringing technology led art forms alongside traditional practices, reaffirming public art as a platform for expression and dialogue across Chennai’s creative ecosystem and global cultural contexts,” said Sumi Gupta, curator of the Madras Art Guild.
“Climate resilience begins with climate literacy. Empowered communities are built on understanding, and understanding grows through shared stories and accessible knowledge. ‘Pockets of Hope’ is a new illustrated book project by UNESCO that brings to life the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, with its terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems, and the communities who call them home. Through itsphotography exhibition at Madras Art Guild and an illustrated journey across all Biosphere Reserves in South and Central Asia, ‘Pockets of Hope’ highlights the urgency of responsible ecosystem management and conservation. By placing science and nature within cultural spaces, public art becomes a bridge, expanding participation, deepening awareness, andinspiring more informed and collective climateaction,” said Dr. Benno Böer, Chief, Natural Sciences Unit, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia.
“Art in all its forms has always been a powerful way to reflect who we are and where we are headed. I am sothrilled to see a platform like Madras Art Guild create aspace for diverse artistic voices, especially youngartists, to express their ideas and their talent. Publicart festivals like this not only celebrate creativity but are foundational to nurture curiosity, dialogue and cultural continuity” said Dr. Shobana, recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2025, renowned actress and Bharatnatyam dancer.
The festival brings together a dynamic mix of artisticexpressions, talent, and creative projects. In collaboration with Chennai Photo Biennale (CPB) Foundation, the festival features captivating photography exhibitions. Among them, ‘A Spotlighton Talent and Important Themes from around India and the World’ brings together diverse artistic voices whose work captures stories of our times and draws attention to ideas that can influence change. Chennai in Focus, presents a collection of 120 photographs by amateur and professional photographers, capturing the city through multiple lenses and documenting its everyday rhythms, layered history, and evolving urban landscape.
Dedicated art galleries present hundreds of artworks by student artists as young as eight years, alongside senior artists. Drawing inspiration from Marlene Dumas, the children have created a compelling series of self-portraits that explore identity, emotion, and self-expression with remarkable depth.
This edition of the Madras Art Guild features a wide range ofimmersive experiences. Technology- led works such as The Face Project introduce 3D face scanning and 3D printing into public art, expanding audience engagement with artistic creation. Large-scale installations, including the anamorphic sculpture Nataraja by Silaii, offer a uniquely engaging experience as they play with perception and discovery.
VR Chennai will transform into a vibrant live cultural arenathrough the Street Art Theatre Festival, a dynamic programmefeaturing puppet shows that use light, shadow, and live narrationto weave together folklore and memory. This experience will connect seamlessly with Gaanaa, a community-based musical narrative shaped by lived experiences. Showcasing traditional folk forms such as Poi Kaal Kuthirai, Mayil Aattam, NaiyandiMelam, Kathiyal, and percussion performances, the festival places equal emphasis on diverse artistic practices. At a time when many traditional art forms face gradual disappearance, thisinitiative reinforces their relevance
within contemporary cultural life. The Street Art Theatre Festivalwill culminate in a community-
created mural that will remain on site as a lasting testament toChennai’s collective creativity.
In collaboration with SA College of Arts & Science, the Film Festival will enable students across the country to showcase original films in diverse categories including fiction, documentary, animation, experimental, and mobile filmmaking. The programme will feature screenings by emerging filmmakers,masterclasses and interactions with industry professionals,dedicated Q&A sessions with student creators, and awards.
Each week at the festival is a dynamic experience, enriched by a diverse range of activities focused on different art forms. In collaboration with Higginbotham’s, the Literature Fest will host a book fair and meet-and-greet sessions with authors.
The Creative Conclave and Young Artists Program will offer students a platform to experiment, learn, and express themselves across a range of artistic mediums.
With participation from local artisans, the Art Bazaar will showcase traditional and contemporary crafts, focusing on sustainable, handmade, and locally crafted products. Pottery sessions, mandala art, Thai clay miniature, watercolour painting, and macramé workshops will engage visitors of all ages through interactive experiences.
Building on its collaboration with Art Reach, the Madras Art Guild has initiated a three-year programme to create sustained creative engagement for children from marginalised and underserved communities. Shaped by participant needs, localcontext, and the festival’s curatorial theme, the programme will use hands-on learning to develop foundational art skills and self- expression. Participating children will present their works and creative process at the festival.
The fifth edition of the Madras Art Guild is made possible through collaborations with Yamaha, Higginbothams, NOS, Silaai, The Open House, Faboo Events, Achalam Gallery, Art Infiniti, Art Kingdom, Open House, Toscano and Global Art.
Madras Art Guild, established in 2019, is a vibrant showcase ofthe diverse creative expressions, thought-provokingcollaborations, and engaging experiences. By transformingpublic spaces into dynamic art hubs, the festival highlights its commitment to making art more accessible while celebrating Chennai’s cultural identity.
The festival has drawn over 4.06 million visitors. It is supportedby The Yuj Foundation and is also part of VR Chennai’s Connecting Communities© initiative that aims to encourage civic pride, strengthen the local economy, and enhance the city’s national and international image.
