Museum of Art & Photography installations to be exhibited at KIA Bengaluru

The Hindu

03-06-2025

The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has partnered with the Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bengaluru to offer passengers a unique cultural experience in its Terminal 2 (T2).
The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) which operates KIA, stated that this collaboration aims to transform the airport into a dynamic cultural hub, allowing travellers to engage with the rich tapestry of South Asian art and heritage during their journeys. Through thoughtfully curated interactive installations, featuring the works of celebrated artists, passengers will have the opportunity to explore and connect with the region's diverse creative legacy.
T2 is already home to a collection of 210 carefully curated artworks by more than 60 artists.
What can passengers explore?
At T2's domestic terminal, passengers can enjoy a suite of immersive digital experiences curated by MAP which include:
Gallery on Demand – Step into a world of artistic exploration with a rich digital library featuring works by renowned artists such as Jamini Roy, Jangarh Singh Shyam, Jyoti Bhatt, Suresh Punjabi, and L.N. Tallur. The platform also brings MAP's extensive film ephemera collection to life through curated stories built around Bollywood posters, stills, and lobby cards. From tracing the evolution of the tawaif figure to embarking on a journey through Arabian Nights, these narratives captivate and inform. A series of short films further offers intimate insights into the lives and practices of selected artists from the MAP collection.
Interactive Puzzles – Engage with iconic artworks like Universe by S.H. Raza, Last Supper by Jamini Roy, and The Lotus Sellers by N.S. Bendre through touch-based puzzles that make art both playful and thought-provoking.
Digital Lamp Lighting – Rooted in Indian tradition, lighting a lamp marks the beginning of something auspicious. This interactive feature lets travellers digitally light a lamp from MAP's collection by scanning a QR code and personalising the moment with their name — a small but meaningful pause in the journey.
Cumulus – Digital Collection Viewing System – Dive deep into MAP's digitised archive using Cumulus, an intuitive application that lets users search, zoom, curate, and share artefacts. With tools for closer inspection and personal collection building, it's an ideal gateway for both casual discovery and deeper research.
Virtual Greetings – Send animated digital festival and occasion-based greetings inspired by artworks in MAP's collection.
Travellers can also explore an exclusive retail zone featuring MAP collection-inspired home and lifestyle products — ideal for souvenirs, gifts, or a personal piece of art to take home.
T2's international terminal will host an exhibition 'Bhuri Bai: My Life as an Artist', spotlighting the journey of Padma Shri awardee Bhuri Bai.
Hari Marar, MD & CEO, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), said, 'At KIA, we're reimagining what it means to travel — not just as a journey from one place to another, but as an experience enriched by culture, creativity, and connection. Our collaboration with MAP is a step in realising that vision, aiming to transform Terminal 2 into a vibrant hub of discovery and engagement. By bringing art into the passenger journey in such an accessible and interactive way, we hope to offer travellers moments of pause, inspiration, and reflection. It's our way of weaving the cultural richness of the region into the overall airport experience.'