BLR-192 | Revitalising Bengaluru's Public spaces

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Plot

BLR-192

177-Lakkasandra

Area / Length:

49 sqm

Main access road:

Hosur Road

Nominee:

The Artist's Bench (currently in discussion with scientist of ISRO, Association of People with Disabilities, Broke Artists Collective and collaborating with Pajama Poets)

Non-registered community group

Partner:

Durga R

Professional

Activities:

None of the above, as the space is defunct, It is used for drying clothes, the Bengaluru One sign does not work, there is a wall with a sign that doesn't work, and constructions leftover clutter

Issues:

Garbage dumping, In-accessible, No maintenance / dirty

Importance of the site

As it's a public library next to the bus stop, near a food street, there are no creative activities happening that could inspire the youth who live here. The trees here have suffered immensely due to the air pollution. This project is to encourage them to visit the public library and create/engage in contemporary art. We believe our proposal will revive the library and clean the pollution caused by heavy traffic on the hosur main road. As Lakkasandra streets are cluttered with cars and bikes with no place to walk or sit, the library at least should be free of this and value people over bikes, garbage dumping and drying clothes. There is a Public school, a hospital, a college, BOSH and NIMHANS public convention centre in walkable distance, and yet this space is so underdeveloped when it is the primary space for the locals to get information. There is a Bengaluru One here as well. The sign does not work and the space is severely mismanaged. Our proposal will make it a hotspot for different kinds of visitors, giving exposure to the library to be used for more purposes. And help artists with disabilities, women and children use the space. I, Mariyam Saigal, have been living here for five years, and I have seen the youth here completely devoid of a third place. The public school here is another option if the Library is not chosen by you folks. There's much need for culture here that creates a bridge and helps create a network between different people who live here. I grew up in a small town where the library was a big resource for me as an artist and a disabled person. It is sad to see that one of the primary sources of information for the underprivileged here is devoid of art, community, culture and beauty just because it is placed in this locality.

Proposed idea / vision:

The Artist's Bench Project / A Bench of One's Own Project is for the disabled artists, children, and female artists to reclaim public space and create art with the public. The bench will be designed to store rainwater and also purify air. The spot we have chosen is a Public Library in Lakkasandra. Lakkasandra currently has no accessible spaces and cultural spaces that the Youth, women and children can participate to generate community or value. And the best part the bench helps reduce the burden on trees that are dying here and it collects rainwater that usually goes in gutters. How It Can Work Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 3 PM to 7 PM this spot become a regular spot for local female artists, disabled artists and children to create art on the spot for their audience based on the prompts given by them. They can sell that art on the basis of pay what you want. Slots can be assigned based on the roster maintained by us. The art will consist of painting, poems, letters, and other forms of art. Not including performative art like music to avoid disturbing the locals. The artists can be equipped with nothing more than a sign explaining what they will be creating. There must be no corporate sponsors or any affiliations. 30% of earnings can be donated back to the bench's upkeep and the library. Real-Life Examples: In many cities around the world, public benches have been used for community good. For instance, in Zimbabwe, the "Friendship Bench" project uses benches as a platform for mental health support, where trained community health workers provide talk therapy to those in need. These examples show how public spaces can be reimagined to foster creativity and community engagement. Safety is paramount. Proposed measures should include CCTV cameras. Participation and Preference: The Bench can be open exclusively to Indian citizens, with foreigners allowed to collaborate with the artists. Those who have busked for more than eight months consistently can be encouraged to mentor beginners, offering free workshops and sharing their observations with the community. Artist Requirements: Artists must be a child or a female or disabled. They must remain independent, unaffiliated with labels or publishers, and must refrain from using the bench for any purpose other than creating art on the spot. The experience can be recorded and shared only with the consent. This a revolutionary step towards reclaiming art as a medium of expression and communication while reclaiming spaces that are not accessible. It provides a platform for those who have no other way to share their voices, turning benches across the city into hubs of creativity and community. It can become a space to celebrate and support independent artists in their purest form.