An Introduction
The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation was established in June 2019 by Ganesh Shivaswamy, a lawyer from Bengaluru, India. Having commenced collecting chromolithographs and other prints of popular art in the early 1990’s, it was felt that a platform was required to engage with the various custodians of India’s popular culture. The main purpose of the Foundation therefore is to showcase, catalogue, and preserve various aspects of India’s rich history.
Our Areas of Interest
Raja Ravi Varma
Ravi Varma (1848-1906) is considered the foremost modern Indian artist. Born in Kilimaoor, a aristocracy in the former kingdom of Travancore, he travelled extensively across India along with his brother C. Raja Raja Varma. The itinerant brothers interacted with royals, bureaucrats, businessmen and the common man affording them a unique vantage of the diverse land. This Varma captured in his paintings which naturally appeased Indians across regions, class and caste. Together with the Ravi Varma Press, Varma altered the very notions of religious imagery and aesthetics of the people of the Indian sub-continent and beyond.
Other Projects
The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation has collaborated with other organizations like the Bangalore International Center, Carnatic Alchemy Foundation and Destination Heritage among others to showcase Indian art, culture other aspects of heritage, history and culture.
Some of the other projects we have worked on include showcasing talks on the heritage of Bangalore, the royal heritage of Mysore among other aspects of history and culture.
Launch of Google Arts & Culture
In September 2019, the platform was launched by Her Highness Shubhangini Raje, Rajamata Ji of Baroda at the Maharaja Fateshingh Museum at Baroda. Now, with the Foundation’s partnership with Google Arts & Culture, the catalogue has been substantially improved.
Our Well Wishers
Access for All, Mumbai
Apparao Galleries, Chennai
Apparao Foundations, Chennai
Artflute, Bengaluru
Bangalore International Center, Bengaluru
Bhavani Museum, Sattara
Carnatic Alchemy Foundation, Bengaluru
Delhi Art Gallery
Destination Heritage, Bengaluru
Government Museum, Chennai
Indian Music Experience Museum, Bengaluru
JNAF/CSMVS, Mumbai
Kilimanoor Palace Trust
Kaudiar Palace, Thiruvananthapuram
Maharaja Fatesingh Museum, Vadodara
Maya Films, Bengaluru
Museum of Art & Photography, Bengaluru
National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru
Osianama, Mumbai
Royal Gaekwad Collection, Vadodara
Saffronart, Mumbai
Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer Art Foundation, Chennai
Sree Chitra Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram
In the Press
- The Times of India: January 8, 2023: Ravi Varma’s first-ever portrait debuts in Mumbai.
- DT Next: December 26, 2022: People need to be credited for their contribution.
- Indian Express: December 23, 2022: The stories behind Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings.
- Sunday Mid-Day: October 9, 2022 – Isn’t Saif Ali Khan’s look in Adipurush not ‘Raavan’ enough? Here are the many looks of the mythological character.
- Bangalore Mirror: April 14, 2022 – Postcards from Bengaluru.
Contact us at: contact@ganeshshivaswamy.com
Copyright: The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation, Bengaluru