Vadodara artists add creative touch to India-aided Hanimaadhoo Airport in Maldives
adodara: Hanimaadhoo Airport, a key infrastructure project in the Maldives being developed with Indian assistance, will showcase the creative work of artists from Vadodara.
The airport project was mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the Maldives on Friday.
India is supporting the development of several infrastructure projects in the Maldives, including the Hanimaadhoo International Airport in the Haa Dhaalu Atoll. The project is being executed with financial assistance through a line of credit from the Exim Bank of India. Once operational, the airport is expected to enhance connectivity to the northern Maldives and help ease congestion at Male Airport.
Vadodara-based curator Sachin Kaluskar, who is overseeing the installation of artworks at Hanimaadhoo Airport, said their team was selected due to their previous work at airports in Ayodhya, Dehradun and Surat, as well as projects in Kedarnath and Congo. The assignment came through Kalpataru Projects International Ltd, which is developing the airport.
The initiative involved collaboration with five Maldivian artists — Mohammed Zain Riyaz, Ahmed Aleem Shakoor, Aminath Lauza, Aishath Shiman Solah, and Aminath Zainath Azim — who were selected through a competition organized by the Regional Airports Company Ltd in the Maldives.
The artists worked with Kaluskar's Vadodara-based team to finalize the design concepts.
"The entire execution was done in Vadodara. The completed murals were transported to Tuticorin and then shipped to the Maldives," Kaluskar said.
Artists from Vadodara who contributed to the project include Jitendra Solanki, Mrunal Kahar, Kunal Kahar, and Parth Solanki. The artworks comprise 15 mixed-media murals, each measuring 3.5 meters wide and 2.5 meters high.
The pieces highlight the Maldives' vibrant marine life, culture, and heritage. A sculpture of similar height is also in the works.
The murals will be displayed at the airport terminal, which is currently in the final stages of construction. While Hanimaadhoo currently sees limited flights from southern Indian cities, flight frequency is expected to rise as operations expand.
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