A certain quality of art allows us to tap into various realms of the discipline — inspirations, colour, stories, and much more. It’s challenging to place this quality, but can be described as an innately human experience. The unique perceptions of each art piece urge us to think differently, and perhaps, view the world through a slightly different lens too.
And so, those who collect art gain a perspective so special, that it draws them into the world of art like no other. The comprehensions of art and artists, with their tales, motivations, and passions, transcend a simple enthusiasm for the work to become a more meaningful relationship.
My Word I by Rajnish Chhanesh (Gouache on paper, 44×28 inch, Diptych)
Cultivate Art, a global platform dedicated to supporting emerging and mid-career artists — and passionate about fostering connections between artists and collectors through online exhibitions and pop-up events — works in this teeming space. With the inaugural Young Collectors Weekend Global (YCWG) in Bengaluru, the team believes that it “champions a new generation of patrons who see collecting not as mere acquisition, but as engagement—with narrative, memory, and cultural responsibility.” Founder of CultivateArt, Farah Siddiqui Khan says, “We see collectors and artists as co-creators of a larger cultural story. The bridge between them is built through genuine engagement , it’s not just viewing art on a wall, but engaging with the artist’s journey, their process, their vision. These early relationships are seeds for long-term commitments to creativity and patronage that will shape the art world of tomorrow.”
The edition creates a holistic environment of art — with work and artists from various disciplines, styles, materials, and more. Spanning sculptural, textile, miniature, and mixed-media traditions, the edition brings together a visually rich and conceptually layered selection of works. Despite their formal diversity, the practices find common ground in identity, ecology, gender, labour, and postcolonial inheritance. Together, they offer not just aesthetic exploration, but also a challenge to singular narratives — inviting enthusiasts and collectors to encounter art as a living, evolving dialogue with history, memory, and the present moment.
(L-R) Harsha Durugadda’s Dance of Seed (Layered wood, 46x36x2.5 inches); Divya Pamnani’s Ascending x 2 (Mix of pigment, gouache, and inks on wasli, 24 x 34 inches)
“We approached YCWG with a deep sense of responsibility — to reflect the richness of voices emerging across South Asia and beyond. The curation balances bold expression with thoughtful nuance. We wanted to give space to stories that are personal, political, and sometimes unfinished — because that’s where the most exciting art lives. The sensitivity comes from allowing the work to speak honestly, and trusting our audience to receive it with openness,” says Farah. From Richa Arya’s sculptural transformations of scrap metal interrogating gendered labor, to Divya Pamnani’s meditative miniature paintings rooted in traditional Bikaner techniques, the diversity of art on display spans material, method, and meaning. Sareena Khemka’s decaying urban landscapes crafted from crystals and bacteria contrast powerfully with Harsha Durugadda’s participatory sculptures in stone and wood, highlighting how artists today are reimagining the tactile and conceptual boundaries of contemporary practice.
The collectors’ intimate journeys with the art on display is a focal point with CultivateArt and YCWG. The future for the two lies in the evolution to a platform that connects collectors to meaningful work, geography no bar. “Each edition will respond to its local context — whether we are in Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai or London, our aim will always be with the same intention: to celebrate emerging voices and to support thoughtful collecting,” says Farah.
Anni Kumari’s Vasundhara (Acrylic on canvas, 60×60 inches)
An experience with art is only personal when there’s intent: on the artist’s end to convey a message that they hold dear, and in the viewer, to take away bits of it. The dedication and passion for collection spans the world, and YCWG recognises the unique bond between art, artists, and collectors. “collecting isn’t passive. It’s a form of active participation. When someone acquires a work, they’re not just buying an object — they’re entering into the artist’s universe and collecting a moment, says Farah.
Words by Meghna Mathew.
Featured art courtesy Rewati Sahanai: Standing Stones, Oil on canvas.
