The Hindu Business Line : Taj West End — Getting to the art of it

"The Taj West End is being repositioned as a most modern luxury hotel with a heritage touch, catering to the needs of the global business traveller.''

A VIEW OF `The Art Corridor' at Taj West End in Bangalore. — G.R.N. Somashekar

Bangalore March 15 Bangalore... a city that was once considered a pensioner's paradise, with its neatly laid-out roads lined by avenue trees, and gardens and parks at the turn of every street.

With IT companies marching into the city, Bangalore became the youngsters' hangout. The city's sudden change of image, from a laid-back town to a vibrant place, resulted in many old structures — some belonging to the colonial era — giving way to swank commercial spaces. There are only a few left now in the city that tell tales of a past glory.

The Taj West End, the city's first hotel, is a remnant of an era bygone, when Bangalore was a leafy British cantonment. It was in 1887 that the Bronson couple opened a boarding house with 10 beds. Bronson's West End, as it was called then, passed into the hands of the Spencers in 1912. In 1984, the Taj Group took over this hotel property.

Set at the heart of Bangalore, the hotel, with 117 suites and rooms, bears the stamp of old-world charm and colonial architecture that has been carefully preserved for over a century, and also blended with amenities that are up to date, amidst a 20-acre expanse of landscaped greenery.

"A legacy of history welcomes you right at the façade... The Taj West End is being repositioned as a most modern luxury hotel with a heritage touch, catering to the needs of the global business traveller," says P.K. Mohan Kumar, Area Director - Bangalore, and General Manager - The Taj West End. "The old buildings even have the rare Monkey-Top feature."

The hotel has recently completed the renovation of one of its oldest buildings — the Heritage Wing. Built in 1905, Kumar says, it also has a 150-year-old Rain Tree, and an exhibition of some of the oldest black and white photographs that have been sourced from the hotel group's archives. Part of the experience also includes a nature walk inside the property, conducted by a renowned naturalist, he adds.

The Art Corridor

Adding colour to the renovated Heritage Wing is `The Art Corridor at Taj West End'. "As awareness of art among Indians is increasing, we wanted to celebrate art by dedicating a special space for art-work. That's how the Art Corridor came about," explains Kumar.

"The hotel has been a repository of the finest things in life. The Art Corridor is a continuing tribute to the finest facets that guests and citizens can enjoy in the hotel's verdant ambience."

This area aims to showcase and celebrate the enormous talent that the city possesses. It also aims to support budding artists from Karnataka, especially Bangalore; "even sponsoring some of them," he adds. He quickly adds that it is not an art gallery.

The Art Corridor at Taj West End is a partnership with artchutney.com; Kumar says that the hotel property would only be providing the space.

"A percentage of the sale proceedings would go to charity."

The online portal would be involved in sourcing of the works of art. Kumar adds that they would also invite artists to display their art on a permanent basis in between shows, which would be conducted once in two months. "It will be a huge opportunity for them considering our global clients." Enquiries have started pouring in already, he says.

The launch event had about 75 art pieces from artists ranging from the biggies to the budding talent.

Some of the big names include Vasudev, Babu and "one M.F. Hussain which has already been sold," he adds.

"We have 75 properties in India. Every property has some investment in art. As a group, we have some of the rarest art pieces... And there is also an emphasis on Indian art. We are encouraging our international designers to buy Indian art too," Kumar says.

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