Australian High Commission
New Delhi
India, Bhutan

PA/38/12 Australian Minister launches world class museum at Hampi

   Hampi                                  

Australian Minister for the Arts, Simon Crean inaugurates the Kaladham Museum in Vijayanagar with Sanjeev Jindal (left) and B S Anand Singh, Karnataka Minister for Tourism. Photo: Graham Crouch.

PA/38/12                                                                                                          6 November 2012                           

                                     Australian Minister launches world class museum at Hampi

Australia's Minister for the Arts, the Hon Simon Crean MP, inaugurated the Kaladham Museum in Vijayanagar, Karnataka, as part of Oz Fest, Australia's largest ever cultural festival in India.

“I want to congratulate Mrs Sangita Jindal, the Chair of the Jindal Art Foundation, for her vision and belief in the Kaladham Museum project”, said Mr Crean.

Mr Crean hailed Place Hampi, one of the museum’s key exhibits, as a powerful example of cultural collaboration between Australia and India.

“The Place-Hampi exhibition is part of the biggest cultural festival Australia has ever brought to India—Oz Fest”, said Mr Crean.

“This is a stunning exhibition developed by Museum Victoria in partnership with counterparts in India merging art, heritage and technology in a magnificent immersive 3D display about an ancient World Heritage Listed archaeological site at Hampi”, said Mr Crean.

The museum was inaugurated in the presence of Shri Anand Singh, the Hon Minister of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, and JSW Foundation Chairperson Sangita Jindal. Kaladham is built on a 10 acre site within the JSW Township at Vijayanagar, 25km from the World Heritage site.

The interactive Place Hampi exhibition of 3D panoramas has been permanently installed at the Kaladham Museum to promote the art and culture of Hampi and will become an integral part of the museum. The exhibit was conceived and curated by Sarah Kenderdine of Museum Victoria. It features an interactive tour that highlights the evolution and history of Hampi. The exhibit draws upon the products of the cultural imagery and visual languages of archaeology, photography and new media.

Visitors can engage in sensorial and experiential encounters with Hampi as an historic place and a living cultural landscape through interactive technologies and stunning panoramic 3D photography. The exhibit was commissioned by the JSW Foundation. The project brings together more than 30 years of research at the Hampi site and presents the capital of the former Vijayanagar Empire with all its mythological, archaeological and historical significance.

“I’m sure the 360-degree, 3D panoramic visual and surround-sound display, originally shown at Melbourne’s Immigration Museum, will be a standout feature of the new heritage and tourism precinct in Karnataka State”, added Mr Crean.

Ms Jindal said, “Kaladham is an endeavour by JSW Foundation to promote art and culture. The objective is to reach out to artists everywhere and provide them a platform to showcase their talent. Our aim is to make Kaladham a point of reference for the World Heritage site, to highlight the roots and history of Hampi and the artisans that created it, bringing excellence and creativity worldwide”.

Oz Fest is the biggest Australian cultural festival ever staged in India. The Australian Government is working with 24 government, business, institutional and production partners to present over 100 events in 18 locations across India between October and February 2013.

 For more information visit www.ozfestindia.com, www.facebook.com/ozfestinindia or follow us on twitter @OzFestIndia