Whitefield Art Collective: Creativity & Sustainability Festival

The Whitefield Art Collective (WAC) recently concluded its ninth annual visual and performing arts festival at VR Bengaluru, highlighting creativity, sustainability, and fashion. The event, which featured a range of installations, photographs, and interactive art, kicked off with a live musical performance by Grammy Award-winner Ricky Kej and ensemble.

A key highlight was the fashion showcase, A Rose for Khadi, curated by designer Rajini Rekha, celebrating sustainable designs and practices. Rekha described the collection as a quiet movement, an ode to India’s most enduring textile, reimagined through a lens of contemporary expression. According to Rekha, the collection is rooted in mindful creation, celebrating Khadi as a living heritage that is organic, resilient, and deeply human.

The showcase aimed to redefine perceptions of Khadi, presenting it as sharp, contemporary, and undeniably relevant. Rekha noted that the audience response was not just appreciation but awe and captivation, adding that pushing expectations is both a challenge and a quiet pleasure.

The festival also featured exhibits influenced by technology, including performances showcasing AI imagery. WAC curator Sumi Gupta explained that technological shifts, including the emergence of AI, are part of the broader evolution of creative practice. Gupta added that artists have adapted to new tools and mediums throughout history, and AI represents another moment of transition within that continuum.

For artists, digital media, tools, and platforms have opened up possibilities to expand the boundaries of storytelling, visual expression, and interactive experiences. Gupta noted that these technologies offer opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, where traditional art practices intersect with digital tools, design thinking, and technological literacy.

Gupta emphasized the importance of human imagination, critical thought, and emotional expression, stating that the conversation around AI is less about replacing artists and more about how artists can engage with emerging technologies in thoughtful and responsible ways while preserving the essence of human creativity.

The festival was designed as an experience where art unfolded across familiar public spaces, inviting visitors to encounter creativity in unexpected ways. Gupta hopes the festival helps viewers discover new perspectives, spark conversations, and develop a deeper appreciation for art. A defining aspect of the festival was its strong focus on student participation and mentorship, giving young artists and design students the opportunity to respond to curatorial themes and present their work within a public setting.

The annual festival introduces a vibrant cultural dimension to the Whitefield neighborhood and Bengaluru as a whole, transforming everyday spaces into platforms for creativity and dialogue. It also brings together artists from India and abroad, along with collaborations with academic institutions and cultural organizations. Gupta concluded that the Whitefield Art Collective aimed to create an environment where creativity, conversation, and cultural exchange could thrive.