G.159

Address: 2nd Floor, House No. 159, SFS 208 Colony, Yelahanka New Town, Bangalore, India
Contact: Nihaal Faizal
Email: nihaalfaizal@gmail.com
Website: g159.tumblr.com
Open Hours: by appointment

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How is the project operated?
G.159 is a nonprofit, artist-run space based out of the living room of a student’s accommodation apartment in a quiet residential neighbourhood of Yelahanka New Town. Along with a range of events in this living room, we also host various offsite events such as screenings and drawing parties within the town of Yelahanka and operate a recently started studio-residency programme on the rooftop of the building.

How long has it been in existence?
G.159 has been in existence since February 2013.

What was your motivation?
We began the project as a reaction to the lack of spaces in Yelahanka New Town for exhibition, studio practice, or discussion. Although home to a large art and design school there existed no community spaces catering to art and related practices. G.159 was born out of a critique of the institution, and in the absence of other alternative spaces.

Number of organizers/responsible persons of the project.
The space was founded by Roshan Shakeel and Nihaal Faizal in the latter’s student accommodation apartment and is currently sustained in collaboration with Gavati Wad. Other offsite events are organised in collaboration with partner spaces and other artist-friends.

How are programs funded?
Our programmes are self-funded by the organisers and through donations from the participating artists, friends and family.

Who is responsible for the programming?
The curatorial team of G.159 decides programming. Our schedules attempt to present one event per month, leaving enough room to allow for other spontaneous actions and events.

Number and average duration of exhibitions/events per year.
On average we host one event per month. Exhibitions generally run for a duration of five days, while screenings, talks and performances happen on specific dates. The rooftop studio residency is our most recent programme and invited artists use it for a duration of their choice.

What kind of events are usually organized?
We organise exhibitions, performances, screenings, interactive studio sessions, talks and discussions while also allowing space for informal meetings and private gatherings.

Do you accept proposals/submissions?
We do not formally accept proposals or submissions, but we can be contacted easily and respond to all queries. Events are decided based on their perceived potential in the specific space with an emphasis on locally engaged practice.

What kind of role do you hope to play in your local art scene or community?
The community of Yelahanka New Town is home to a large population of migrants both from within India and from the wider globe. A large part of this community is brought together by the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology that offers undergraduate and post graduate courses in art, design and related practices. Both outside of and within the institution, we encounter a lack of resources and possibilities for material exploration. G.159 modestly aims to occupy that gap, providing a space for exhibition of work that is not commercially driven and is experimental in approach. While allowing room for emerging practices and displaying work that allows if necessary even for the scope of failure, we strive to present challenging work by a range of locally practicing artists while also presenting to the local community work by other artists practicing in India.

What idea are you most excited about for the future?
Every upcoming show and event provides us with a new understanding of the space and its possibilities. Each event creates its own atmosphere and transforms the relationships mediated by the home-gallery. We currently look forward to our next show, a solo exhibition of the work of Linda Stauffer, planned to open on the 29th of October.

Images courtesy of G.159.