See Salogra, Himachal Pradesh | April 2026
The Knowledge Convergence Foundation (TKCF), founded by art advisor and collector Teesta Bhandare, has announced the launch of its inaugural multidisciplinary residency programme for artists and writers in Salogra, Himachal Pradesh. Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, RS Bali, also visited the residency, where he met with participating artists and writers and encouraged initiatives that position Himachal Pradesh on the cultural and creative map.
Conceived as a platform for intellectual and creative exchange, TKCF aims to foster dialogue across disciplines through curated residencies, workshops, publications, and exhibitions. The residency marks one of the first initiatives of its kind in India, bringing together practitioners across generations in an intimate, collaborative setting.
The inaugural edition is centred on the theme тАЬParadise PromisedтАЭ, with Lina Vincent serving as Curatorial Advisor. The programme will culminate in a publication documenting both the artworks produced and the ideas generated during the residency.
At its core, the residency is designed as a space for critical inquiry. A series of workshops and discussionsтАФconducted in informal, immersive formatsтАФaim to encourage deeper engagement among participants. Notable contributors to these sessions include historian Sohail Hashmi, author and festival director Namita Gokhale, and singer-composer-filmmaker Madan Gopal Singh.
Through sustained dialogue with peers and thought leaders, the programme seeks to challenge established perspectives and inspire participants to engage with contemporary realities through diverse lenses.
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About the Theme: тАЬParadise PromisedтАЭ
The theme explores evolving interpretations of paradise and its influence on social structures and collective aspirations. It examines how the pursuit of idealised states continues to shape behaviour, even as societies often drift further from such ideals.
Drawing from philosophical, spiritual, and cultural traditions, the residency invites reflection on the tension between promise and realityтАФboth in personal narratives and broader societal frameworks.
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Participating Creative Practitioners
The residency brings together a diverse cohort of artists and writers:
тАв Rekha Hebbar Rao тАУ Painter known for allegorical works rooted in colour and form
тАв Veer Munshi тАУ Explores themes of exile and identity, particularly in the context of Kashmir
тАв Teppala Kodanda Rao тАУ Engages with environmental and social transformations
тАв Sheena Maria Piedad тАУ Works at the intersection of ecology, capitalism, and community
тАв Digbijayee Khatua тАУ Focuses on urbanisation and ecological fragility
тАв Dhiraj Pednekar тАУ Practice spans sculpture, film, and education
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Programme Highlights
тАв April 2тАУ3, 2026
Where is Paradise? тАФ Workshop on song and mystic poetry led by Anahita Batra
тАв April 9, 2026
Sohail Hashmi presents The Music of Stones, exploring Islamic architecture and notions of paradise through Mirza Ghalib
тАв April 11, 2026
Fireside conversation between Namita Gokhale and Teesta Bhandare on books as artistic mediums
тАв April 13, 2026
Musical presentation by Madan Gopal Singh examining concepts of heaven and hell in literature and popular culture
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About the Founder
Teesta Bhandare is an art advisor and collector committed to nurturing contemporary South Asian art and fostering cross-cultural dialogue. She serves on the International Council of the Serpentine Galleries and is a member of Photo LondonтАЩs Young CollectorsтАЩ Circle.
Bhandare was also part of the founding team of Art Mumbai, where she served as Associate Director, contributing to the cityтАЩs emergence on the global art map. Her writings explore intersections of contemporary art, law, and emerging technologies, and she is currently working on an anthology of South Asian art for children.
