While the temperature rose and the cricket attracted all the attention, the Bangalore art scene in April was diverse, colourful and dynamic.

The Leela Palace welcomed the Aura Art Gallery from Bombay for a group show of Indian contemporary artists, 'Reality Beyond the Visible'. Though I could not attend the event, I was told the exhibition attracted lots of art lovers and customers. Over 30 artists had been put together to relate about the invisible, those things that I don't see because I am too busy and maybe not enough emotional. I particularly liked the abstract works of Arunanshu Chowdhury where the colour combination drives your emotions and takes you towards your invisible inner world where you are free to wander, think, love, hate, laugh or cry.

The well established Crimson's Gallery requested Nalini Malaviya to curate their April show. Nalini explored the complex relationships between urban development and environment degradation, a subject people struggle with everyday in Bangaluru. In 'Irreverent Gene', she gathered works of 9 artists and came out with a striking show that pleased all the visitors despite the heavy rains on the day of the opening. I spent a long time admiring the works of Debraj Goswami, looking for meanings behind symbols, looking for a mirror to reflect back our own struggle with the environment and trying to understand what people do or perhaps not do to preserve our eco system.

Suresh Jayaram curated a multimedia show at the Max Mueller Bhavan to celebrate the German horticulturist, Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel. 'Whatever he touched he adorned' was a tribute by 8 artists to the man who created the Bangalore city garden identity and who was instrumental in setting up the Lal Bagh Botanical Garden. Suresh's show sounds like an echo to Nalini's and emphasises, if need be, the environmental challenges the city is facing.

Right Lines, who usually brings us unusual, upcoming or not in the front scene artists for the last 12 years, put together a show for Swapan Bhandari. 'The Narratives Heads' is a series of faces. Some, like Swapan's interpretation of Lord Rama or the Christ, are highly symbolical and colourful. Some are faces of common men, drawn with ink on paper. The show gave me the impression to walk in a family gallery of portraits, where you can suddenly remember relatives you forgot a long time ago.

The National Gallery of Modern Art in cooperation with the Victoria and Albert Museum, presents till May end the 'Indian life and Landscapes by Westen Artists 1790-1927'. The exhibition of 93 unique works will particularly take you to a tour around India seen by British artists.

Third Eye organized a 'Summer Sensation', Gallerie De Arts showed Kazi Anirban, Krisalart showcased 'Fusion' and Tasveer 'Tales of Chitpore' by Saibal Das.
April was hot and cultural.