Learn about
Mindscapes Bengaluru
Combining diverse perspectives and practices, Mindscapes is part of Wellcome’s international cultural programme that invites its partners in different cities around the world to create intersectoral enquiries that link cultural projects to mental health research and policy.
The two-year-long programme, culminating in 2023, comprises residencies, a crowd-sourced documentary, urban investigation films, exhibitions, participatory interventions, and community events. Major collaborations are staged in New York, Bengaluru, Berlin and Tokyo with satellite partnerships in other locations.
Mindscapes in Bengaluru is developing projects and programming that speak to the idea of 'missing voices' in mental health discourse, focusing on themes such as:
UnBox Cultural Futures Society
UnBox Cultural Futures Society
Founded by Quicksand Design Studio (a trans-disciplinary design thinking and innovation consultancy based in India), UnBox Cultural Futures Society is a platform exploring new narratives and building action at the intersection of disciplines, to reimagine India’s plural futures. UnBox creates festivals, labs, and publications that bring together diverse practitioners from India and abroad.
Founded by Quicksand Design Studio (a trans-disciplinary design thinking and innovation consultancy based in India), UnBox Cultural Futures Society is a platform exploring new narratives and building action at the intersection of disciplines, to reimagine India’s plural futures. UnBox creates festivals, labs, and publications that bring together diverse practitioners from India and abroad.
For Mindscapes Bengaluru, UnBox is developing and coordinating projects with diverse stakeholders with a focus on lived experiences and culturally appropriate interventions. The UnBox team on the project comprises of Aparajita Bhasin, Jyoti Narayan, Riya Gokharu, Fiza Jha, and Rohan Patankar and is advised by Avinash Kumar.
For Mindscapes Bengaluru, UnBox is developing and coordinating projects with diverse stakeholders with a focus on lived experiences and culturally appropriate interventions. The UnBox team on the project comprises of Aparajita Bhasin, Jyoti Narayan, Riya Gokharu, Fiza Jha, and Rohan Patankar and is advised by Avinash Kumar.
Curatorial Research Fellow
Curatorial Research Fellow
Supported by his colleagues at UnBox Cultural Futures Society and Quicksand Design Studio, Rohan Patankar is anchoring the Bengaluru chapter of Mindscapes. Trained in architecture and urban sociology, he works as a senior design researcher and strategist at Quicksand on projects in public health and mental health. He finds himself invested in telling better stories and asking better questions about the many worlds we live in.
Supported by his colleagues at UnBox Cultural Futures Society and Quicksand Design Studio, Rohan Patankar is anchoring the Bengaluru chapter of Mindscapes. Trained in architecture and urban sociology, he works as a senior design researcher and strategist at Quicksand on projects in public health and mental health. He finds himself invested in telling better stories and asking better questions about the many worlds we live in.
Museum of Art & Photography
Museum of Art & Photography
The Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) is a private art museum based in Bangalore, India that is a custodian to a collection of Indian art, textiles, photography, craft, and design objects spanning from the twelfth century to the present.
The Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) is a private art museum based in Bangalore, India that is a custodian to a collection of Indian art, textiles, photography, craft, and design objects spanning from the twelfth century to the present.
For Mindscapes, MAP has been working closely on several artist-led projects - including one with Mindscapes Bengaluru Artist in Residence, Indu Antony - which seek to foster the mental health discourse in creative ways.
For Mindscapes, MAP has been working closely on several artist-led projects - including one with Mindscapes Bengaluru Artist in Residence, Indu Antony - which seek to foster the mental health discourse in creative ways.
Artist-in-Residence at
Artist-in-Residence at
Museum of Art & Photography
Museum of Art & Photography
Indu Antony is a transdisciplinary artist based in Bengaluru and Kerala, India. Previously trained in medicine, her practice involves working with communities to express the inequalities of gender, class and caste, in the form of communal spaces, performances and installations. As part of Mindscapes Bengaluru, Indu is developing a co-created exhibition exploring the idea of 'Gender and Space' through workshops, stories, and artworks with the women of Lingarajapuram, Bengaluru.
Indu Antony is a transdisciplinary artist based in Bengaluru and Kerala, India. Previously trained in medicine, her practice involves working with communities to express the inequalities of gender, class and caste, in the form of communal spaces, performances and installations. As part of Mindscapes Bengaluru, Indu is developing a co-created exhibition exploring the idea of 'Gender and Space' through workshops, stories, and artworks with the women of Lingarajapuram, Bengaluru.
Institutional Partners
Institutional Partners
National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS)
National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS)
Established in 1925, the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) is a multidisciplinary institute for patient care and academic pursuit in the field of mental health and neurosciences. The Central Government recognized its eminent academic position, growth and contributions, and declared it a ‘Deemed University’ in 1994. In 2012, NIMHANS was conferred the status of an ‘Institute of National Importance’.
Established in 1925, the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) is a multidisciplinary institute for patient care and academic pursuit in the field of mental health and neurosciences. The Central Government recognized its eminent academic position, growth and contributions, and declared it a ‘Deemed University’ in 1994. In 2012, NIMHANS was conferred the status of an ‘Institute of National Importance’.
Indian Institute for Human Settlements
Indian Institute for Human Settlements
The Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) is a national education institution and a prospective national university, committed to the equitable, sustainable and efficient transformation of urban Indian settlements. IIHS is a prospective independent national institution of eminence and innovation university focused on its urbanisation.
The Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) is a national education institution and a prospective national university, committed to the equitable, sustainable and efficient transformation of urban Indian settlements. IIHS is a prospective independent national institution of eminence and innovation university focused on its urbanisation.
Quicksand
Quicksand
Quicksand is an interdisciplinary consultancy based in India. They facilitate the creation of meaningful experiences through design research and innovation.
Quicksand is an interdisciplinary consultancy based in India. They facilitate the creation of meaningful experiences through design research and innovation.
Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy
Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy
Founded in 2007, the Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy (CMHLP) is based in Pune at the Indian Law Society (ILS). Their mission is to strengthen and transform the mental health of their communities to be holistic and responsive in addressing individual and collective well-being.
Founded in 2007, the Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy (CMHLP) is based in Pune at the Indian Law Society (ILS). Their mission is to strengthen and transform the mental health of their communities to be holistic and responsive in addressing individual and collective well-being.
Fields of View
Fields of View
The goal at Fields of View is to undertake research at the intersection of technology, social sciences, and art to design these tools for policymakers and people. They are a not-for-profit group based in Bangalore.
The goal at Fields of View is to undertake research at the intersection of technology, social sciences, and art to design these tools for policymakers and people. They are a not-for-profit group based in Bangalore.
Science Gallery Bengaluru
Science Gallery Bengaluru
Science Gallery Bengaluru (SGB) is a not-for-profit public institution for research-based engagement targeted at young adults. They work at the interface between the natural, human, and social sciences, engineering and the arts through a Public Lab Complex, ever-changing exhibitions, and mentorship programmes. SGB is established with the founding support of the Government of Karnataka and three academic partners—Indian Institute of Science, National Centre for Biological Sciences, and Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology. It is a member of the Global Science Gallery Network with sister galleries in Atlanta, Berlin, Dublin, London, Melbourne and Rotterdam.
Science Gallery Bengaluru (SGB) is a not-for-profit public institution for research-based engagement targeted at young adults. They work at the interface between the natural, human, and social sciences, engineering and the arts through a Public Lab Complex, ever-changing exhibitions, and mentorship programmes. SGB is established with the founding support of the Government of Karnataka and three academic partners—Indian Institute of Science, National Centre for Biological Sciences, and Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology. It is a member of the Global Science Gallery Network with sister galleries in Atlanta, Berlin, Dublin, London, Melbourne and Rotterdam.
India Foundation for the Arts
India Foundation for the Arts
India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) is an independent, nationwide, not-for-profit organisation that makes grants and implements projects across research, practice and education in the arts and culture in India, since 1995. They believe that the arts and culture are essential to our individual and community lives, and for a more equitable and just world. As a facilitator, catalyst, and provocateur in the field, they support critical investigations, explorations and experiments that push boundaries of knowledge and practice, and challenge dominant narratives.
India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) is an independent, nationwide, not-for-profit organisation that makes grants and implements projects across research, practice and education in the arts and culture in India, since 1995. They believe that the arts and culture are essential to our individual and community lives, and for a more equitable and just world. As a facilitator, catalyst, and provocateur in the field, they support critical investigations, explorations and experiments that push boundaries of knowledge and practice, and challenge dominant narratives.
Convenings
Convenings
UnBox Cultural Futures Society brought together the Bengaluru cohort to collaborate and develop cultural projects over the 2 year period.
UnBox Cultural Futures Society brought together the Bengaluru cohort to collaborate and develop cultural projects over the 2 year period.
June 2021 | Virtual Convening
June 2021 | Virtual Convening
Mindscapes Bengaluru kicked off with a virtual convening (facilitated by Sruthi Krishnan, Fields of View) that brought together forty individuals from arts & culture institutions; mental health organisations; research, policy, and community-focused organisations, in June 2021. The group discussed the barriers around language, social stigma, and exclusionary social structures that limit constructive conversation on mental health in the public realm. Critical discussions included questions around ‘missing voices’, ‘how marginalised communities could be engaged better’, and ‘how policymakers can be included in intersectoral collaboration’.
Mindscapes Bengaluru kicked off with a virtual convening (facilitated by Sruthi Krishnan, Fields of View) that brought together forty individuals from arts & culture institutions; mental health organisations; research, policy, and community-focused organisations, in June 2021. The group discussed the barriers around language, social stigma, and exclusionary social structures that limit constructive conversation on mental health in the public realm. Critical discussions included questions around ‘missing voices’, ‘how marginalised communities could be engaged better’, and ‘how policymakers can be included in intersectoral collaboration’.
October 2021 | In-Person Convening
October 2021 | In-Person Convening
The Mindscapes Bengaluru cohort met for a working session at the Bangalore International Centre to continue conversations and find synergies and partnerships for projects that could be developed over the coming year.
The Mindscapes Bengaluru cohort met for a working session at the Bangalore International Centre to continue conversations and find synergies and partnerships for projects that could be developed over the coming year.
March 2022 | London Workshop
March 2022 | London Workshop
Rohan represented Mindscapes Bengaluru at the Mindscapes Workshop at the Wellcome Trust in London. In the four-day workshop, the Curatorial Research Fellows from Berlin, Bengaluru, New York, and Tokyo, participated in meetings with other Mindscapes artists and curators, colleagues at Wellcome Trust, Wellcome Collection, and other project partners.
Rohan represented Mindscapes Bengaluru at the Mindscapes Workshop at the Wellcome Trust in London. In the four-day workshop, the Curatorial Research Fellows from Berlin, Bengaluru, New York, and Tokyo, participated in meetings with other Mindscapes artists and curators, colleagues at Wellcome Trust, Wellcome Collection, and other project partners.
May 2022 | Summer Meet up
May 2022 | Summer Meet up
The Bengaluru Cohort gathered for a working session at the Courtyard to exchange about the developments on different city projects, discuss the overall project timelines and ambition, reflect on our shared enquiries and outcomes, and identify ways to support each other.
The Bengaluru Cohort gathered for a working session at the Courtyard to exchange about the developments on different city projects, discuss the overall project timelines and ambition, reflect on our shared enquiries and outcomes, and identify ways to support each other.