Kolkata Centre for Creativity set to host major retrospective exhibition of the late Dasrath Patel

The Kolkata Centre for Creativity is all set to open its doors on November 21 with late artist Dasrath Patel's solo exhibition
Dasrath Patel     photo courtesy Emami Art
Dasrath Patel photo courtesy Emami Art

Kolkata, popularly held as the culture capital of India, lags behind many miles when it comes to showcase and build on the rich heritage of art and culture and promote young talents. To fill this void Emami, the Kolkata-based FMCG major that already has an art gallery called Emami Art, is set to launch a new interactive arts centre of around 70,000 sq ft in the happening zone of Eastern Metropolitan Bypass.

The Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC), all set to open its doors on November 21, will be spearheaded by Emami Group’s director, Richa Agarwal as KCC’s executive director and CEO of Emami Art. “KCC will inform, stimulate and inspire audiences with a wide range of artistic activities as well as provide a resource base through programmes, workshops, libraries and activities across a wide span of creative disciplines. Emami Art, one of the largest and finest art spaces in India, will be the flagship destination in KCC for artists, visitors and art collectors. Our spaces will be year-round destinations and a landmark for the city, offering something unique to the field of art,” says Agarwal.

A collage by Dasrath Patel
A collage by Dasrath Patel

Designed by architect Pinakin Patel, the centre houses eight distinct spaces including Museum of

Contemporary Culture, showcasing art, craft, antiquity and product design, while inviting audience interaction on how creative minded people can articulate culture, Children’s Corner, which will be using state-of-the-art technology to tell stories connected to mythology and nature, a Conservation Studio and Event Rooms and a Skill Development Maker section with libraries stocking related books as well as materials. Besides, there will be a cafeteria, Cafe Sattva, providing ‘food for thought’.

A major highlight of KCC’s inauguration will be School, the first ever solo exhibition of celebrated Indian artist, the late Dashrath Patel. Curated by Pinakin Patel, the exhibition will focus on Dashrath’s photographic work, a medium often overlooked. It will showcase the artist’s line drawings, ceramics and collages from 1930s to 2000 and chart his artistic journey across media and types.

Flame-thrower, a statue at the entrance of IT corridor, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Chennai
Flame-thrower, a statue at the entrance of IT corridor, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Chennai

"What 'modernism' provided after the World Wars and 'minimalism' did for the stressed-out investment bankers, is what is needed once again. The creative community must move beyond the peripheries of life and assert themselves at the very core of contemporary culture. At KCC, we will strive to offer 'essentialism' as an antidote to the current degenerative chaos around,” says Pinakin Patel, architect and creative director, KCC.

Once open, the Kolkata Centre for Creativity will offer free entry and will be open between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday. KCC will be closed on Monday.

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