A meditative play of deep blue light, rippling indigo-dyed fabrics and the quiet hum of artisanal soundscapes greet visitors at ‘Blue Futures: Reimagining Indigo’, a new exhibition at Hampi Art Labs (HAL) that celebrates indigo as both colour and cultural memory. The show brings together leading artists from India, France and Japan to trace indigo’s journey – from its ancient origins in the Indian subcontinent to its revival in global art, fashion and sustainable design.
“Indigo, a colour born of India’s soil and stories, becomes a symbol of sustainability, creativity and global dialogue. We believe art has the power to connect communities, inspire change and shape a more imaginative future”Sangita JindalChairperson of JSW Foundation
The exhibition, conceptualised by the JSW Foundation, opened on November 2. It was inaugurated by Sangita Jindal, Chairperson of the foundation, at Hampi Art Labs near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi in Vijayanagara district of Karnataka. It marks the venue’s first in-house curatorial project since the centre opened earlier this year.
Curated by Meera Curam, Residency Director at Hampi Art Labs, Blue Futures features works by Manish Nai, a Mumbai-based sculptor known for transforming urban waste into textured forms; Aboubakar Fofana, a Paris- and Mali-based indigo dye master celebrated for his organic processes; Japan’s collective Studio Buaisou, which is reviving traditional indigo farming; and Alwar Balasubramaniam, whose experimental work explores perception and material transformation.
Inaugurating the exhibition, Mrs. Jindal said that Blue Futures represents the vision of Hampi Art Labs to nurture new conversations between tradition and innovation. “Indigo, a colour born of India’s soil and stories, becomes a symbol of sustainability, creativity and global dialogue. We believe art has the power to connect communities, inspire change and shape a more imaginative future,” she said.
At the heart of the exhibition lies the Indigo Pavilion, an immersive installation where indigo-dyed textiles ripple like water under soft blue light. Archival material, sound, and contemporary visuals together map indigo’s evolution across India, West Africa and Japan to modern design studios around the world. Visitors can also explore digital maps of ancient trade routes, live indigo plants, and the pigment’s oxidation process in the Indigo Alchemy Lab.
Sangita Jindal, Chairperson of JSW Foundation, addressing the artists and art enthusiasts at the Blue Futures exhibition at Hampi Art Lab near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi in Vijayanagara district of Karnataka.
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“Our aim was to create a space where indigo is experienced as a living, evolving story and not as a static artefact. Through installations, sensory environments and workshops, we invite audiences to rediscover indigo’s connection to land, labour and artistic expression,” said curator Meera Curam.
The exhibition will continue till early 2026, accompanied by artist-led workshops, block-printing demonstrations, film screenings and public talks.
Spread across nine acres, Hampi Art Labs – an initiative of the JSW Foundation, the social development arm of the US$23-billion JSW Group – combines studios, galleries, gardens and artist residencies in a landscape that mirrors the grandeur of the Vijayanagara heritage site. Hampi Art Labs seeks to bridge local craftsmanship with contemporary art and to create cultural linkages across the Global South through residencies and collaborations.
Published – November 05, 2025 10:06 am IST
