Category: art and culture

On Bengaluru’s busy Kasturba Road, is a beautifully designed, modern structure that has become a landmark for arts and culture in the city. The Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) has redefined the traditional museum experience in India through the way it exhibits its collections, by creating interactive digital exhibits and by paying attention to inclusivity. It offers a home for a vast collection of Indian art, exhibitions, and public programs.

A Brief History

The museum was created by philanthropist and art collector Abhishek Poddar. Poddar’s passion for Indian art saw him amass one of the country’s most significant private collections, some of which, alongside works brought in from the broader art world has turned into a modern, accessible museum that both houses these works and also creates a space for dialogue and education around Indian art.

The museum’s mission is to democratise art, challenging the traditional museum model. MAP also employs a unique digital approach, allowing the museum to create immersive experiences around its art collection as well as reach a wider audience

Sketching at MAP

The collection at MAP is diverse, with over 60,000 works spanning from the 10th century to the present day. Unlike many museums that organize by strict chronology, MAP’s exhibitions are thematic, drawing connections between historical objects and contemporary ideas.

MAP is, as you can expect, very friendly to people who wish to draw at the museum. You can sketch from the vast collection of sculpture, paintings, installations and photographs on show. You may even want to sketch the murals on the building itself, or the sculpture in the courtyard. The museum’s ever-changing temporary exhibitions also offer new subjects, ranging from modern art to popular culture and design.

Please note that you may not carry bags into the galleries. There are lockers in the basement where you may leave your bag. Also carry a small sketchbook and basic sketching media like pencils or pens. Wet media and elaborate painting setups are obviously not allowed.

MAP: Address and Map

Address: 22, Kasturba Road, Shanthala Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001, India

The museum is conveniently located in the city center, right across from the Government Museum and close to Cubbon Park. It’s easily accessible via public transport, with the Cubbon Park, MG Road, and Vidhana Soudha metro stations all within walking distance.

Hiding in plain sight, on Bengaluru’s Kamaraj Road, is a beautifully restored 160-year-old building that has been given a new lease on life. Sabha, is a vibrant cultural space that has quickly become a hub for arts, ideas, and community in the city. This heritage space offers a home for everything from classical music performances and theatre productions to art workshops and unique exhibits.

Artist: Smitha Shivaswamy | Medium: Brushpen

A Brief History

The story of Sabha is rooted in a tradition of education and community. The building was once the Chaturveda Siddhantha Sabha School, established by the RBANM’s Educational Charities. For over a century, it was a place where generations of students were educated and where knowledge was shared. However, like many of Bengaluru’s historic buildings, it eventually fell into disrepair and was left abandoned for over 15 years, its halls and windows gathering dust.

Artist: Smitha Shivaswamy | Medium: Brushpen

Restoring the heritage property

In 2024, the Ammini Trust, led by V. Ravichandar, took on the monumental task of restoring the dilapidated structure. The restoration team was dedicated to keeping the original character of the building intact, from its pitched roof and wooden beams to its large windows.

Today, Sabha not only hosts a wide range of events but also serves as a model for how to respectfully and creatively repurpose historic buildings.

It has already become a favourite sketching location for the Penciljam community, who meet at Sabha to draw the architecture, as well as the vibrant events hosted there.

Artist: George Supreeth | Medium: Pen and Coloured Pencils

Sketching at Sabha

For those of us who sketch and draw, Sabha is a dream come true. The building’s beautiful architecture provides a wealth of subjects. Its courtyard, with a charming café and lush greenery, is a perfect spot to sit and capture the interplay of light and shadow on the old walls.

While there are no restrictions as such on art material at Sabha, it is important to remember that as a cultural space, it sometimes attracts crowds. Plan your sketching trip to Sabha meaningfully so as not to disrupt the experience of other visitors.

An ideal setup is to carry a small or medium sized sketchbook (A5 or A4), and a selection of pens. For colour, consider carrying a small watercolour box, or a few coloured pencils or even brushpens.

Artist: Smitha Shivaswamy | Medium: Graphite Pencil

For our community of artists, Sabha is a place where we can practice our craft while celebrating Bengaluru’s rich history and its promising future as a city of art and culture. In bringing together our sketches of Sabha, we hope to share not just the pictures of a building, but the feeling of being there—the echoes of a school’s past and the buzz of a cultural hub.

Sabha: Address and Map