Gallery Space and ICONART Gallery celebrates milestones in Hyderabad’s developed art scene

The art scene of Hyderabad is developing for better. Artists such as increasing interest in art, launch of new galleries and artists using with diverse mediums and styles have contributed to all in this change. However, the landscape was not alive two decades ago, when galleries in the city fought to maintain themselves due to lack of mentor. Avni Rao Gandra and Hanumantha Rao, the founder of the Iconart Gallery and Gallery Space, reflect their experiences and how they navigated the journey.

Consulted with contemporary art

Avni Rao Gandra | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“Junoon is a clinch word, but I can’t think of a better one,” says Avni Rao Gandra, an artist, photographer, curator, PhD researcher, and the founder of ICONART Gallery on Road No. 12 in Banjara Hills. As the Iconart completes 15 years, Avni reflects on a trip with a sense of achievement.

Gallery was established in January 2009, when several galleries across India were closing due to global economic recession. “This was a decade long recession for art galleries, but the artists continued to do great work,” said, “Kovid -19 epidemic brought another recession in artistic activities, causing commercial damage. Returned to his villages to carry forward his ancestral businesses in agriculture.

Over the last 15 years, Iconart has hosted around 175 exhibitions, including 80 solo shows, with the artists performing their work for the first time. The mission of the gallery has been to connect with contemporary art, raise awareness and provide a platform for young artists. In the past, contemporary art practices were relatively new to Hyderabad, and Avni imagined space as a platform to increase various voices and address contemporary social issues. “Today’s young artists are in touch with different types of artistic practices, but then, the audience was not even ready to accept contemporary pictures, walk alone to perform arts.”

Terracotta Workshop in Manpret Singh’s studio by members of Art icon | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

With a limited gallery location – just 700 sq ft – Avni took some of her curatorial projects to public places. In contemporary Andhra painting, his PhD helped him bring ideas to life, addressed women, environment, urban life, girl related topics, and recently, spirituality.

Being the owner of the gallery space meant that financial obstacles were not pressure, but initially, he faced challenges due to the reluctance of the people to appreciate the experimental and innovative art practices and by the artists pursuing modern, contemporary arts The beach are disconnected and decorative and accustomed to illustration. Art. “Galleries were considered as exclusive places, catering for a limited audience. But today, young people in Hyderabad are eager and open to convert into all forms. ,

His art journey continues with new enterprises. In March, she will cooperate with the society to save rocks to increase awareness through Rocks, an installation project painting to raise awareness about rocks and environmental protection. He is also excited about his newly launched group, the art icon, which was established in November 2024. It was designed to encourage the experience of art and beauty activities, meets group artists once a month, participate in workshops, and host collaborative events.

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Opportunity to be successful

Hanumantha Rao | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

This year is an important milestone for the gallery location as it enters its silver jubilee year. The spirit of pride is clear in the voice of founder Hanumantha Rao because he indicates, “It is not easy to run the art gallery in a rented place. I took this challenge as an opportunity to succeed. ,

Gallery Vacuntum in Space | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

As the MFA graduate, Hanumantha Rao wanted to demonstrate his work in Hyderabad in 2000, but limited routes were found. “Young artists were to go to either Delhi or Mumbai, because Hyderabad had only two galleries at that time – Surya Gallery, Late Artist Surya Prakash, and Meenaz Art Gallery, which was installed by Shehanaz Arni, “He said. Determined to create opportunities for emerging artists, he collaborated with acquaintances and artist friends Laxman Elle and Favad Tamkanat to launch gallery space. He separated his own artistic activities to focus on running the gallery, which moved to his present place in Banjara Hills 22 years ago.

“Gallery was originally placed in a adjacent building for nine years before it was transferred 12 years ago,” he says. To maintain the business, Hanumanta formed a strong relationship with the established artists. When he cures single and group exhibitions, he buys and sells artifacts from famous artists such as Thota Vacuntum, Paresh Matty, Jaisari Burman, and Paramdeep Singh, who catering for art collectors and enthusiasts. He admits that most of his income comes from these sales

Visitors in an art show in gallery space. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The 2,200 square -foot gallery has hosted several notable programs, including a week -long art camp in Taj Krishna in 2007, including artists like Krishane Khanna, Suhas Roy and Shiv Prasanna. However, he knows about the limits of the gallery in expansion beyond exhibitions to include workshops or artist residences. “I need monthly money to run gallery, support my family and pay my employees,” they say. Hanumantha credited Hyderabad -based entrepreneur MM Reddy for playing an important role in the journey of gallery. “His passion for art has been a huge support. He has collected several works from the gallery and continues to do so. “Once upon a time, it was difficult to sell paintings of 10,000, reflecting the art scene to develop the city, but now people are eager to acquire artifacts, regardless of the price,” Hanumantha says “Hanumantha says. , Who recently sold an artwork of ₹, 2, 00,000

Looking forward, the gallery is ready to expand the space, soon with a new branch, the financial district of Hyderabad is opening soon in Nankramguda. “I am glad that this is finally happening in this milestone year,” he says.