Condé Nast Traveller THE LAST WORD IN TRAVEL

In the shadow of the historic Vijayanagara empire, HAMPI ART LABS is a new arts programme brought to life by the JS W Foundation. Designed by A D 100 firm SP+a, it takes design inspiration from the ruins and landscape of Hampi, situated 35 kilometres away. An exhibition centre along with residences for artists, creative studios devoted to various art forms like printmaking and ceramics, a quiet yet communal space for artists to create and explore, Hampi Art Labs is a sanctuary as well as a pivotal step forward for the growing community of art in India. A patron with all her heart in it, Sangita Jindal, Foundation, summarizes her intent: chairperson, JS W had been to Hampi 31 years ago and fell in love with it then. Ever since I have wanted to do something here. And my other lifelong love is art. So I thought, why not bring the two together contribution This is my ongoing to the sea of artistic talent in our country."

- AATISH NATH

The sinuous form of Hampi Art Labs is such that it’s hard to know what shape the structure takes as it seems to snake around its 18-acre plot. Architect Sameep Padora, founder-principal of sP+a, says of the visitor experience to the building, “While you walk along the building and landscape, you will see that the building turns in and out, allowing you to experience courtyards that you don’t see straight away.”

This sense of discovery permeates the space, which has gone from an idea to completion over the course of five years. The arts centre is both an exhibition space and one that offers artist residencies, with multiple batches of artists living and creating in the space through the year. Each gets their own space—there are five in total—while two large studios devoted to printmaking and ceramics round off the creative spaces.

There’s also a fluid gallery space, where the debut show, Right Foot First, which opened in February and runs till 31 May, currently displays a curated selection from the Jindal collection acquired between 1998 and 2003. The cafe has a separate entrance but is part of the same building. Only the 10 artist residences are in a different block—but even that is part of the site’s amorphous design language.