World Heritage Day: Exhibition to focus on public awareness

BENGALURU: The city has lost more than 55% of its heritage, with private structures disappearing more rapidly than the government-owned ones. On the occasion of the World Heritage Day (April 18), a three-day exhibition titled ' Hands On Heritage' seeks to draw public awareness towards heritage conservation.

"People have to be aware that if we are not sensitive and sensible in our outlook towards heritage, we will have only a handful of private and public heritage structures surviving by 2050," said organiser Rosie Paul, principal architect of Mason's Ink, a firm that specialises in sustainable construction and heritage preservation. Starting on April 16, the exhibition will be held at Rangoli Metro Art Centre on MG Road.

Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage ( INTACH) will exhibit photos and statistics about Bengaluru's disappearing heritage. As part of her ongoing project Malleswaram Calling, artist Archana Prasad will install a phone booth where each digit di alled will recount facts about the history of one of Bengaluru's oldest localities. Architect and heritage activist Naresh Narasimhan will deliver a talk about how Bengaluru's rapid growth story comes hand-in-hand with the loss of integral historic structures.

"We want this to be a platform for like-minded people to meet and discuss the city's heritage.So apart from architects, conser vationists and heritage lovers, many old Bengalureans will talk about their interactions with the changing city ," said Rosie.

The exhibition is part of an ongoing project where architecture students and private heritage home owners work hand-in-hand to document and conserve heritage buildings.