Asian Paints Unveils the ‘Asian Paints Art House’ at Mumbai Urban Art Festival

~Also reveals the Asian Paints Colour of the Year 2023 at the ‘Art House’ and inaugurates another landmark space at Sassoon Docks, called Illusions~ 

National, 13th January, 2023: Asian Paints and St+art India Foundation are pleased to return to one of Mumbai's oldest docks on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Mumbai Port Authority (MBPA). Together, they unveiled a one-of-a-kind project, called 'Asian Paints Art House' at the Mumbai Urban Art Festival (MUAF) along with the exclusive preview of ‘Illusions’, the second part of the Sassoon Dock Art Project. The endeavour also witnessed the announcement of ‘Silver Escapade’ as the 2023 Asian Paints Colour of the Year.

As one of the premier creations at MUAF, Asian Paints Art House was designed to represent a node in the ocean. Since Sassoon Dock has a visceral connection to the ocean, and is witnessing a new sort of gathering of culture, art and people, our aim was to design a maelstrom that pulls together currents in the Art House, creating an energy vortex. It was created by Ayaz Basrai from The Busride Studio, using waste, debris, upcycled fabrics, and other bits and pieces found around the dock. The Art House will also consider what a ‘home’ can be, inspired by creative living and modular design which is also created by The Busride Studio. The Art House incorporates the Colour of The Year – Silver Escapade too in very interesting ways. 

Sassoon Dock Art Project II - Illusions - between the sea and the city proposes a series of works in a path from darkness to light, a transition from depth to surface. It reflects on some of the complexities of our transactional reality, by proposing alternative, fluid, and expansive views. It is open for public viewing from 13th January to 22nd February 2023.

The Asian Paints Colour of the Year 2023, ‘Silver Escapade’, announced at the launch of the Art House, is emblematic of the desire to generate a new world, informed by the comfort of our memories and enmeshed with the magical stories of our childhood and the futuristic edge of innovation. An illusory colour, silver is an interaction in time, a chronicle of the past and a beacon of things to come. The iterative silver is evocative of a travelling mind, that's going forward through our virtual and physical worlds, if silver is the colour of time travel and technology, it is also the colour of child craft.  Across industries we expect silver to resonate when adding a hint of festive or shimmer to our surroundings, but also for its anti-microbial qualities that give the assurance of a sanitized environment. 

Internationally-acclaimed UK artist - Steve Messam – has created ‘Bungalow’, an inflatable textile installation in the Asian Paints Colour of the Year 2023 - Silver Escapade - on the ‘Asian Paints Art House’. A large silver form fills the first floor veranda representing the bustling city of Mumbai, brimming with ambition. The billowing forms of different sizes and angles show the coexistence of people migrated from all over the country in search of opportunity. It reflects light and transforms the colonial style building lifting the focus up and out.

The opening of the Art House also saw Asian Paints and St+art India Foundation drop 5 NFTs for the first time created by visual artist Amrit Pal Singh in collaboration with artists namely Atia Sen, Neethi, Osheen Siva, Shantanu Hazarika and ZERO. 

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Amit Syngle, Managing Director & CEO, Asian Paints Ltd. said, “We are proud to unveil the ‘Asian Paints Art House’ and the 2023 Colour of the Year- Silver Escapade at the Mumbai Urban Art Festival. We are thrilled for the public to see what has been created at Sassoon Dock, representing Mumbai City, its art and culture, in a way that Mumbai may have never witnessed or experienced before. Illusions, is another landmark project we’ve launched at Sassoon Dock, adding to our collective vision of celebrating Mumbai city and its people. I am also very excited for the NFTs that have been curated for the festival with a tinge of Colour of the Year – Silver Escapade. A shout out to St+art India Foundation for curating the Mumbai Urban Art Festival & building onto our long-time partnership with their continued excellence. A special mention to the Mumbai Port Authority for their support in making MUAF a possibility.”