The art at Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru at Embassy ONE is a celebration of the multi-layered aesthetic of Indian contemporary visual art. Over 25 artists reflect their individual practices, producing a narrative of unfolding stories. Moving beyond the conventional exhibition of art in a hotel space, this collection puts together original works of art and with it invites guests to explore the multiplicity of story-telling and narratives.

The art for the hotel’s public spaces has been curated by renowned artist Riyas Komu, who was hired by Bengaluru’s gallery to visualise and conceptualise the art package for the project. Komu has used his deep understanding of present art trends, coupled with his passion to provide a platform for up and coming and maverick artists, and chosen themes that resonate with indigenous ideologies and the city’s cultural ethos to create a series of stunning pieces by artists whose works have never been showcased here before.

From the cutting-edge, mapping techniques of Saju Kunhan, to Manjunath Kamath’s flair for creating fantasies out of the ordinary, the public spaces of the hotel boast of works from some of the country’s most exciting artists. Thukral & Tagra’s quirky, kitsch, pop art-like work occupies the pride of place at CUR8, the hotel’s all-day dining space, while G R Iranna’s idealistic, representative and modernist language with his brush completes the otherwise staid foyers of the Ballroom annexes.

Even the lift lobbies across the hotel, curious spaces where people often loiter for a few minutes waiting for the elevator or sometimes confused over which direction to take, have stunning creations by Sumedh Rajendran whose sculptures amalgamate various fundamental forms such as animals, objects and humans, resulting in hybrid species that break downs all preconceived notions one may have while categorising anything into a ‘type’.

Gitanjali Maini, Founder and Managing Director of gallery g, the art consultant for the entire project, explains “This has been one of the most challenging, yet fulfilling projects we have worked on thus far. Riyas Komu is an artist with unmatched oeuvre, a visionary and a messiah to many young artists across the world. There could have been no better mind than his to visualise and conceptualise the art for this project; gallery g has worked with him from the very beginning to plan and create each and every piece of art that you see in the hotel’s public spaces.”

The Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru at Embassy ONE is host to some of the most diverse cutting-edge, creative artists and their practices on its premises, thus becoming a valuable archive for contemporary Indian art. It also makes the property a valuable patron of these artists by providing them a novel venue to display their work.