“I grew up surrounded by art, not just on walls but as a way of seeing the world. My father, renowned artist E. Rohini Kumar, was my first inspiration. Watching him paint, I understood that each brushstroke expressed his connection to the world.
His roots were in Konaseema. In Hyderabad, he was captivated by the rugged Deccan rockscapes. His paintings blended Indian subjects with a Western sensibility. His confident lines captured the plateau’s raw beauty in a way I still find unmatched.
Art was our family’s pulse. My aunts were immersed in Carnatic music and dance, shaping my interest in visual and performing arts. I studied painting at Potti Sriramulu Telugu University and completed my master’s at JNAFAU. Mentors K Srinivasa Chari, Srikanth Kurva Garu, Sajid Bin Amar Garu, Mahesh Garu and Mallesham Garu each offered perspectives that expanded my vision.
I thought I would become a traditional painter like my father, but found my expression in curating. My first independent project, Divine, explored spirituality through art. Its success led to my association with Gallery Veda in Chennai. Over the past six years, I’ve learnt that curation is more than organising art exhibitions; it is a way of telling stories.
Living Temple began with a question: why separate art, history and performance when they are connected? Visits to Ajanta, Ellora and ancient temples with my father showed me that temple art, often reduced to religious symbolism or tourist attractions, deserves greater respect. Sculptures, music and dance expressed the same universal truth; our ancestors saw these forms as intertwined. Today, archaeologists, performers and artists often work in isolation, telling the same story from different angles.
Living Temple bridged that divide. It brought artists, archaeologists, conservationists and performers together, beyond displaying sculptures or ancient structures. I spent over a year developing it, wanting more than an art show: a space to weave together India’s cultural heritage.”
- Annapurna Madipadiga, Artist & Curator