As the people of Chennai move through Anna Nagar’s VR Mall, running errands, catching up with friends or simply making their way through another day in their lives, art blossoms at various corners of the shopping centre.
Madras Art Guild, a extension of Virtuous Retail‘s award traveling public art festival, has returned to Chennai for its fifth edition, supported by Yuj Foundation
Inaugurated on February 12 by esteemed actress and dancer Dr. Shobana, the exhibit sprawls through the first floor of the mall showcases over 1300 works across conceptual installations, sculptures, paintings and photographs.
Rooted in the theme of “Future is Now” the display begins outside the mall with a huge installation at the entrance. Unassuming yet towering in its presence, the installation titled The Portals taps into a crisis that can’t be ignored.
Made from 180 kilograms of discarded plastic waste collected from beaches across Chennai, the installation conceptualised by artists King Gowtham, M Elanchezheyan, M Gowtham, and B Pugazhendhi of arts collective Art Kingdom and upcycling studio Chakra, the work in in collaboration with UNESCO places sustainability at the heart of its creation.
Symbolising a transition from unconscious consumption to mindful living, the immersive installation beckons us to pause and reflect on our everyday choices.
Another outdoors display titled Kala Car by Saravanan Senathipathi , vibrant tribal patterns infuse life and love onto the surface of a bright yellow Ambassador car, transforming the iconic car into a eye-catching artwork.
Saravanan’s tribal signature and vibrant art style is also visible in one of the more participatory installations inside the mall – the Love Piano.
Crafted in collaboration with the Consulate-General of Japan in Chennai and Yamaha, this piece invites passers-by to take a moment, engage with the keys and immerse themselves in the creation of their own melody. With a bright and warming colour palette, the work captures openness, joy and a quiet celebration of creativity with its inviting nature.
Silaii’s anamorphic installation – an approach where a single image is revealed only from a specific point of view – of Natarajar is yet another highlight.
This illusionary art experience presents Natarajar through separation. From only one angle do we see the stunning sculpture in its complete form, while seeing only the individual parts from other angles.
Intricate and educational all at once, the experience is one laden with gentle curiosity and barely contained awe as it intrigues mall-goers to stop and inspect the eye-catching sculpture.
M Mithila, one of the many incredible participating artists from the Government College of Fine Arts, leaves behind a mark with her compelling installation titled Life Blood.
With a large human heart as its centrepiece, the artwork juxtaposes the delicacy of plants and flowers sprouting from the veins of the fibre-made heart. Made of contrasting materials in a direct reflection of the delicate relationship between humanity and the natural world, the simple yet impactful piece is a stark reminder that we flourish when nature flourishes.
The theme of nature, sustainability and conservation is at the core of many student-led installations. Artist N Karthikeyan‘s work titled The Last Meal one striking example of a work foregrounded by call-to-action. Depicting a turtle with a belly stuffed full of plastic bags, the profound piece is a representation of the human-generated waste cutting through our oceans as a lingering danger to our marine life.
Across from Karthikeyan’s work is a colourful seahorse sculpture titled Hippocampus(Sea Horse). Created by M. Ashika, B Karthick, A.G Rathanika Shree, N. Narmadha and A.Anisha from Sri Annai Kamakshi Music & Fine Arts College, the installation is made entirely of ocean waste.
With the seahorse representing a symbol of powerful grace weakened by the weight of human negligence, the piece encapsulates fragility underpinned by the warning that what we carelessly throw away often finds its way back to us in some form.
S. Abhinaya and R. Elayaraja‘s installation Recycling The Waste, constructed of discarded electronic and mechanical waste echoes a similar theme as it reimagines the universal recycling symbol within a transparent pyramid with a thumbs-up at the centre. Putting out a understated but powerful call to consciously reuse, the piece places accountability and responsibility at its forefront.
Another installation from Abhinaya and Elayaraja titled One World One Nation explores themes of global conflict and the need for unity in a world frayed by division.
Other than sustainability, several other installations also tap into the fine balance of past, present and future with unique, creative ideologies driving each.
For instance, Artificial Rainfall created using cotton waste and LEDs is one of many installations toeing the line between nature and innovation by capturing humanity’s attempt to recreate and preserve the vital force of water.
Similar to the resilience and hope at the centre of Artificial Rainfall, a group of artists from The Pupil International School taps into a sense of cautious optimism around AI in their work An Era Of Exploration. Showcasing a robot leaning on Earth, the installation reflects on the need for sustainable solutions in this AI-era, inviting us to consider AI as tool to sharpen collective human intellect.
Another installation from the school titled The True Potential extends this ideology with a sculpture that envisions human brain and machine elements on a weighing scale, with the scales tipping in favour of the brain. This work is a reminder once again that the true potential of creation lies in collaboration and connection of humanity and modern innovation.
Yet another installation from The Pupil International School titled When The Past Meets The Future showcases a simple yet impactful meeting of minds – where ancient humanity entangles with future intelligence. Reminding us that traditions need to evolve rather than fade, this piece is about finding purpose through exchange of knowledge and values.
Certain other pieces such as M.Mithila’s Naturalist – in contrast to her other piece Life Blood at the showcase – presents humanity as a hollow form , enclosed in wire mesh, cut off from natural connections that can help us flourish – while the inclusion of delicate roots and small bird attempts to restore fragile balance.
P. Siva Subramanian and M Devi‘s The Story of Kuyavar is yet another sculpture that takes a quiet but sharp take at how modernisation strips away the value of handmade arts like pottery. By representing the potter as a see-through, wire-made figure, the work reminds us to celebrate the creative human hands, hearts and souls behind the culture we call our own.
Many artworks are also a playground for diverse emotions, spanning the charming portrayal of a superhero Super Nature Man as a symbol of hope amidst a future laden with neglect and pollution in The Man of Nature, V Yuvashri‘s introspective piece The Snail and Us expressing belief in collective healing and the students of Velammal International School transforming found objects into nostalgia and a sense of renewal with Memories to Memories.
In addition to installations, photography is also an unmissable highlight of this art experience. Chennai in Focus, an open call which was shortlisted to 100 standout photographs by 84 photographers unfolds the various shades of Chennai from divine spots and beaches to vibrant heritage and the layers of human experience nestled in every corner.
Another photo exhibit, Under The Sky brings together photographs by young students from government schools across Chennai. Emerging from the daily facets of their life, the exhibit allows youthful minds to use images to express themselves, encourage their curiosity and creative spark to ignite through the camera lens.
This public art experience also has paintings across differing mediums displayed, leading us through canvas after canvas of vivid stories.
“With this year’s theme delivering a solid call for reflection on today’s choices and future consequences, the installations, photographs and other creative elements will give you a moment’s pause”
Curated by Sumi Gupta and with participating institutions including Government Fine Arts College, Kumbakonam; The Pupil Saveetha Eco School; Cholamandal Artists’ Village; Annai Kamakshi Music and Fine Arts College; Ology Tech School-Chitravati Centre for Creativity; and SA Film Academy under SA Institutions, the festival doesn’t stop with exhibitions, but drawing art lovers in with a community-focused events.
From traditional street performances spanning puppet traditions, folk performances, and live percussion to student-led cinema – including FRAME 2 FAME: National Short Film Competition 2026 – literary events like book fairs, a curated Art Bazaar as well as interactive workshops including activities like pottery and mandala art, Madras Art Guild has transformed a public, commercial space into a living gallery steeped in culture, conversations and community.
With this year’s theme delivering a solid call for reflection on today’s choices and future consequences, the installations, photographs and other creative elements will give you a moment’s pause – no matter what you’re you’re visiting VR Mall for.
And that is the power of public art displays – it comes alive in our everyday spaces and etches itself into our collective conscious as it guides us towards change without judgement.
Go check out the Madras Art Guild at the VR Mall, Anna Nagar. The display will be on till March 22 – entry is free and displays are accessible to all!
You can find out more about the festival on their Instagram.
Are you planning to visit the Madras Art Guild festival? We’d love to know what your favourite installation is if you do visit! Don’t forget to keep up with more in-depth art coverage on Lyrical Muse.
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