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The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
Is public art in Hyderabad losing its local touch?
Busy junctions, bridges, quiet neighbourhoods and flyover walls across Hyderabad are turning into canvases for public art. From murals inspired by Nature and education to portraits of sports icons, everyday heroes and the city's historic landmarks, there's plenty to take in. These open-air galleries brighten up the urban landscape and bring art closer to the public. But not everyone is convinced — some feel the murals are more decorative than meaningful. It is all part of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's (GHMC) ongoing beautification drive. City-based artist and curator Aman Preet Kaur raises a pertinent question: Is public art in Hyderabad losing its direction? 'Each piece of public art is a chance to connect with the community. But this potential often goes untapped,' she says. Take the murals along Road No. 45, Jubilee Hills — large depictions of a monkey, frog, hen and deer. For Aman, these feel random. 'What's the idea behind these animals staring from the pillars? In contrast, look at the Masab Tank flyover. It features tile murals of the Charminar, unique rocks of the city and HITEC City showcasing a blend of tradition and modernity. These offer context, relevance, and a bit of local history. Even a visitor can get a sense of Hyderabad's heritage.' Of care and maintenance As the GHMC continues to spruce up the city with mural art, one cannot help but wonder about its long-term sustainability. Can this wave of beautification hold up without proper care and maintenance? Take for instance the batik art created by artist Yasala Balaiah, son of the late, reputed batik artist of the same name, for the World Telugu Conference in 2017. The dull walls near Ravindra Bharathi, opposite the Assembly, were once brought to life with 25 vibrant murals celebrating Telangana's culture and everyday life. Seven years on, the picture has changed. Harsh summers and the elements have taken their toll; the colours are faded, and the murals have lost their charm. Who is responsible for upkeep? Will GHMC step in, or should the company that executed the project be held accountable? Senior artist and Iconart Gallery founder Avani Rao Gandra shares a similar view. She points to sculptures like The Thinker near Narsingi Circle, metal works in the Gachibowli traffic islands, and the stylised animals near IKEA. While they enhance the visual experience, she feels they miss a larger opportunity. 'Art that reflects Telangana's heritage like Nakashi, Kondapalli, or Bidri placed near cultural hubs, or contemporary pieces that echo the spirit of a fast-changing city, could help turn Hyderabad into a city that tells its own story,' she says. 'What we need is a thoughtful mix of the historical and the present.' Over the years, public art has steadily grown across the city. Steel sculptures and metal installations at traffic junctions have become more common but few carry any form of credit. 'These works would have more impact if they were site-specific or interactive,' adds Aman Preet. She also points to Floating Rocks, installed at Moazzam Jahi Market four years ago — a replica of a piece by the late Egyptian sculptor Smaban Abbas: 'There's no mention of the original artist. If we can't create something new, at least we should acknowledge the source.' Artist duo Swathi and Vijay have been using street art to spotlight social issues for over a decade in Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Their recent work in Tellapur addresses child begging and exploitation. For Swathi, originality is key: 'Authentic work gets noticed, whether it's on a main road or a backstreet. Even a simple flower rendered in an artist's unique style feels more compelling than something lifted from Pinterest.' Credit remains a tricky issue, especially for murals where several artists work together. But for sculptures and installations, Aman Preet believes tagging is possible and necessary. 'Every public artwork, even if it's a replica, deserves a label, naming the artist and offering some context. It builds awareness and creates a space for deeper engagement,' she says. 'We could begin with the striking stone sculptures displayed along Raj Bhavan Road from the international sculpture symposium.'
The Herald Scotland
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Scottie Scheffler delves into meaning of life at The Open
We're not sure if the inquisitor survived Monty's subsequent wrath. Yesterday, in the build-up to this week's 153rd championship here at Royal Portrush, there were more questions than answers. Scottie Scheffler was in such a contemplative mood at his press conference, he may as well have been perched on a plinth like Rodin's sculptor of The Thinker. As he mulled over his Open prospects, and reflected on his ascension to No 1 in the world, the three-time major winner delved deep into his powerful internal struggle. 'What's the point?,' he said. Funnily enough, that's what the golf writers often mutter to ourselves as we churn out thousands of words about men thwacking small balls about. Scheffler's existential examination made for intriguing listening. 'Is it great to be able to win tournaments and to accomplish the things I have in the game of golf?' he added as the reigning US PGA champion embarked on the kind of profound ponderings you'd get when Socrates and Plato met for a blether after the Saturday medal. 'Yeah, it brings tears to my eyes just to think about, because I've worked my entire life to be good at this sport. To have that kind of sense of accomplishment is a pretty cool feeling. To get to live out your dreams is very special. 'But, at the end of the day, I'm not out here to inspire the next generation of golfers. I'm not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world, because what's the point? "This is not a fulfilling life. It's fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it's not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart. 'I think it's kind of funny. To win the Byron Nelson Championship at home (earlier this season), I'd worked my entire life to have an opportunity to win that tournament. "You win it, you celebrate, get to hug the family, my sister's there, it's such an amazing moment. Then it's like, 'okay, what are we going to eat for dinner?' Life goes on.' It certainly does. In the world of golf, the touring circus rolls along so quickly there's barely time to savour the successes. And when success comes, what do you do next? 'There are a lot of people who make it to what they thought was going to fulfil them in life, and you get there, and you're like, 'what's the point?',' he added. 'I really do believe that, because what is the point? Why do I want to win this tournament so bad? 'That's something I wrestle with on a daily basis. Showing up at the Masters every year, it's like, 'why do I want to win this golf tournament so badly? Why do I want to win The Open Championship so badly?' 'I don't know because, if I win, it's going to be awesome for two minutes. Then we're going to get to the next week and we're back here again. 'Playing professional sports is a really weird thing to do. We put in so much effort, we work so hard for something that's so fleeting. It really is. The feeling of winning just doesn't last that long. It's an unsatisfying venture.' Motivating himself to get up, put in the hard graft and be the best golfer he can be is not a problem for Scheffler. It's the deeper meaning that's at the root of his chin-stroking. His family and his faith are his focal points. As for golf? Well, it's only a game, isn't it? 'I love the challenge, I love being able to play this game for a living,' he said. 'It's one of the greatest joys of my life, but does it fill the deepest wants and desires of my heart? Absolutely not. 'That's why I talk about family being my priority because it really is. I'm blessed to be able to come out here and play golf, but if my golf ever started affecting my home life or if it ever affected the relationship I have with my wife or my son, that's going to be the last day that I play out here for a living. This (golf) is not the be all and end all. 'That's why I wrestle with it, because I'd much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer. At the end of the day, that's what's more important to me.' The meaning of life, eh?
The National
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Scottie Scheffler delves into meaning of life at The Open
Back in 2002 at Muirfield, after a gruesome 84 played out in storm-force conditions, a dishevelled Colin Montgomerie, his tortured, seething face contorted like one of the gargoyles on Notre Dame cathedral, was asked, 'Colin, was the wind a factor?' We're not sure if the inquisitor survived Monty's subsequent wrath. Yesterday, in the build-up to this week's 153rd championship here at Royal Portrush, there were more questions than answers. Scottie Scheffler was in such a contemplative mood at his press conference, he may as well have been perched on a plinth like Rodin's sculptor of The Thinker. As he mulled over his Open prospects, and reflected on his ascension to No 1 in the world, the three-time major winner delved deep into his powerful internal struggle. 'What's the point?,' he said. Funnily enough, that's what the golf writers often mutter to ourselves as we churn out thousands of words about men thwacking small balls about. Scheffler's existential examination made for intriguing listening. 'Is it great to be able to win tournaments and to accomplish the things I have in the game of golf?' he added as the reigning US PGA champion embarked on the kind of profound ponderings you'd get when Socrates and Plato met for a blether after the Saturday medal. 'Yeah, it brings tears to my eyes just to think about, because I've worked my entire life to be good at this sport. To have that kind of sense of accomplishment is a pretty cool feeling. To get to live out your dreams is very special. 'But, at the end of the day, I'm not out here to inspire the next generation of golfers. I'm not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world, because what's the point? "This is not a fulfilling life. It's fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it's not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart. 'I think it's kind of funny. To win the Byron Nelson Championship at home (earlier this season), I'd worked my entire life to have an opportunity to win that tournament. "You win it, you celebrate, get to hug the family, my sister's there, it's such an amazing moment. Then it's like, 'okay, what are we going to eat for dinner?' Life goes on.' It certainly does. In the world of golf, the touring circus rolls along so quickly there's barely time to savour the successes. And when success comes, what do you do next? 'There are a lot of people who make it to what they thought was going to fulfil them in life, and you get there, and you're like, 'what's the point?',' he added. 'I really do believe that, because what is the point? Why do I want to win this tournament so bad? 'That's something I wrestle with on a daily basis. Showing up at the Masters every year, it's like, 'why do I want to win this golf tournament so badly? Why do I want to win The Open Championship so badly?' 'I don't know because, if I win, it's going to be awesome for two minutes. Then we're going to get to the next week and we're back here again. 'Playing professional sports is a really weird thing to do. We put in so much effort, we work so hard for something that's so fleeting. It really is. The feeling of winning just doesn't last that long. It's an unsatisfying venture.' Motivating himself to get up, put in the hard graft and be the best golfer he can be is not a problem for Scheffler. It's the deeper meaning that's at the root of his chin-stroking. His family and his faith are his focal points. As for golf? Well, it's only a game, isn't it? 'I love the challenge, I love being able to play this game for a living,' he said. 'It's one of the greatest joys of my life, but does it fill the deepest wants and desires of my heart? Absolutely not. 'That's why I talk about family being my priority because it really is. I'm blessed to be able to come out here and play golf, but if my golf ever started affecting my home life or if it ever affected the relationship I have with my wife or my son, that's going to be the last day that I play out here for a living. This (golf) is not the be all and end all. 'That's why I wrestle with it, because I'd much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer. At the end of the day, that's what's more important to me.' The meaning of life, eh?
Sydney Morning Herald
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
The giants set to watch over Melbourne for this year's Firelight Festival
This weekend, Docklands will be overtaken by giants. A 12-cubic-metre cross-legged man will tower above Victoria Harbour, while an array of massive humanoids will watch over passing Melburnians. These giants are the work of internationally renowned Tasmanian artist Amanda Parer, who has brought her illuminated inflatable structures to Melbourne's Firelight Festival for the first time. 'People will see [the structures] from afar, and hopefully think, 'wow, this really changes what's usually here'. It's exciting, a bit of fantasy,' she says. As big as they are in size, they're also big in ideas. Since visiting the Galapagos Islands in 1995 as part of a documentary crew, Parer's work has explored our relationship with the natural world, encouraging viewers to consider their impact on the surrounding environment. Man, the enormous cross-legged entity, was inspired by Auguste Rodin's The Thinker. Parer has updated the iconic piece, positioning him with his hand over his eyes as he contemplates what went wrong. Loading 'When Rodin made his sculpture, he was celebrating man's form and man as a pursuer of enlightenment. I've essentially made him or her ponder what went wrong after we've overindulged a bit too much.' It will be the first time this mammoth installation – which plays with scale, light and contrast – has been shown in Melbourne, having previously been erected in Dubai, Finland, Detroit and Tasmania's Mona Foma festival.
The Age
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
The giants set to watch over Melbourne for this year's Firelight Festival
This weekend, Docklands will be overtaken by giants. A 12-cubic-metre cross-legged man will tower above Victoria Harbour, while an array of massive humanoids will watch over passing Melburnians. These giants are the work of internationally renowned Tasmanian artist Amanda Parer, who has brought her illuminated inflatable structures to Melbourne's Firelight Festival for the first time. 'People will see [the structures] from afar, and hopefully think, 'wow, this really changes what's usually here'. It's exciting, a bit of fantasy,' she says. As big as they are in size, they're also big in ideas. Since visiting the Galapagos Islands in 1995 as part of a documentary crew, Parer's work has explored our relationship with the natural world, encouraging viewers to consider their impact on the surrounding environment. Man, the enormous cross-legged entity, was inspired by Auguste Rodin's The Thinker. Parer has updated the iconic piece, positioning him with his hand over his eyes as he contemplates what went wrong. Loading 'When Rodin made his sculpture, he was celebrating man's form and man as a pursuer of enlightenment. I've essentially made him or her ponder what went wrong after we've overindulged a bit too much.' It will be the first time this mammoth installation – which plays with scale, light and contrast – has been shown in Melbourne, having previously been erected in Dubai, Finland, Detroit and Tasmania's Mona Foma festival.
