Born in 2003, 1Shanthiroad has completed 20 years of existence. It has emerged as an alternative space for art that can coexist with commercial art galleries.
Suresh, an art historian and curator, envisioned an open space that would incorporate a private living space for himself and an exhibition-cum-residency space for artists.
It soon evolved into a residency space with Khoj, a non-profit organisation encouraging contemporary art and up-and-coming South Asian artists working with 1Shantiroad.
To date, 1Shanthiroad has hosted 150 artists from different parts of the world. Not only is it a popular destination for residencies but it has also become a hub for exhibitions.
Umesh Madanahalli, a contemporary artist, converted 1Shanthiroad into a kitchen and immediately made meals for the guests. The performance was called Meals Ready.
Poet Mamta Sagar’s evening of poetry, Kavya Sanje, was another noteworthy event. Kashi is preparing to display another collection of his artwork there on 23 and 24 December.
Kashi sums up well, “1Shanthiroad is a space where different kinds of art, that don’t fit the existing frameworks, can be imagined and realised without any limitations.”