NE FEATURES BUREAU
CHENNAI, DEC 3
The fourth edition of Madras Art Weekend (MAW) 2025 opened in Chennai with an evocative theme—‘Madras Reimagined’, setting the tone for three days of immersive art, conversations and cultural exploration. The VIP Preview and Gallery Exhibit inauguration at Taj Coromandel marked the official start of the festival, which will be open to the public from December 4–6.
The event commenced with a ceremonial lamp-lighting led by Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services; filmmaker Mani Ratnam; Christopher Hodges, US Consul General, Chennai, and social entrepreneur Sethu Vaidyanathan. The dignitaries then participated in an exhibition walk-through, offering a first look at the curated works that reinterpret the city’s heritage, memory and contemporary artistic pulse.
- Fourth edition opens with star-studded inaugural ceremony at Taj Coromandel
- City’s creative energy takes centre stage through art, dialogue and curated experiences
- Thought leaders, diplomats and artists converge to celebrate Chennai’s evolving identity
This year’s edition further deepens Chennai’s cultural inquiry through a Collectors’ Panel on “The Impact of Private and Public Patronage”, moderated by Deepali Goyal and featuring Amit Khanna, Siddharth Somaiya, Rhea Kuruvilla and Narayan Lakshman. The discussion will explore how evolving patronage ecosystems shape the visibility, sustainability and future of Indian art.
Speaking about the inauguration, Upasana Asrani, Founder of Madras Art Weekend, said, “Madras Art Weekend has always been about celebrating the creative pulse of this city, and with Madras Reimagined we aim to inspire a more nuanced understanding of Chennai—its stories, its makers, and its evolving identity—by bringing together diverse perspectives that reflect how dynamic the city’s creative community truly is.”
Sharing his thoughts, acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam noted, “It is inspiring to see a platform like Madras Art Weekend deepen Chennai’s cultural dialogue and…” Madras Art Weekend 2025 continues its mission of fostering artistic engagement across disciplines while positioning Chennai as a vibrant, contemporary cultural capital. From thoughtfully curated exhibits to panel discussions and community-led artistic explorations, the festival promises to offer visitors an enriched understanding of a city constantly reimagining itself.
