Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 1,020 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.
As an eco-conscious terminal designed with lush garden-themed architecture, Terminal 2 at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport has won much acclaim. This year, it was recognised among the Top 5 globally in the Skytrax rankings for World’s Best Art in the Airport.
This distinction underscores the airport’s systematic approach to integrating art within its architectural and operational framework. Curated works are not treated as standalone displays, but as integral components of the passenger journey.
With a conscious focus on showcasing the local art of Karnataka, the airport also positions itself as a dynamic, living museum. As shown in this two-part photo essay, cultural narratives and spatial design converge to create an immersive experience for travellers.
"Art and culture were conceived of as an integral part of the four pillars of design, along with Terminal in a Garden, Sustainability, and Technology," Yamini Telkar, Art Programme Advisor for Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) tells YourStory.
The Art Programme serves as a cultural gateway to seamlessly integrate art with infrastructure. "This creates an immersive passenger journey centered on two primary themes: Karnataka's rich heritage and culture, and the Naurasa or nine emotions from Bharata's Natyashastra," she adds.
The Art Programme was formally launched on September 8, 2023. Today, the airport showcases over 300 artworks by more than a hundred artists in the arrival and departure sections of the domestic and international terminals.
Featured artists include Vivek Matthew, Ganesh Shankar, Dinesh Maneer, LN Tallur, Madhvi Subrahmanian, Yayati Godbole, Sakshi Gupta, and dozens of others. Their diverse works span paintings, installations, mixed media works, sculptures, and digital displays.
"Over 90% of the artworks have been commissioned specifically for the Art Programme. Institutional partners are the Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage, as well as the Museum of Art and Photography," Telkar explains.
Airports are more than transportation hubs; they are the first and last impression of a destination, and a defining part of the travel journey. Yet, for many passengers, the airport experience is shaped by queues, wayfinding challenges, crowded spaces, uncertainty, and long periods of waiting.
Art and design can transform the airport from a place passengers simply pass through into a place that welcomes, inspires and connects with them, as shown in this photo essay. Integrating creativity into the airport environment can make journeys more engaging and memorable.
Human-centred design, clear wayfinding, intuitive layouts, and accessible signage can ease passenger navigation. Terminal 2's flight information displays even include suggestions for passengers to check out art installations, depending on time available.
Use of natural materials, biophilic design, daylight, greenery, and calming colour palettes can make terminals feel less stressful. Art, immersive installations, and the sound of flowing water can soften the intensity of busy environments.
Integration of local art, crafts, architecture, materials, stories, and cultural references give passengers an authentic sense of place. Terminals can become cultural showcases that offer visitors a meaningful introduction to the region and also instill pride among local residents.
For example, the Bengaluru airport features live performances during festivals. A six-day cultural celebration marked Naadahabba Dasara this week, with live music, dance, traditional crafts, games, and culinary experiences.
Art works across the span of the airport can create memorable moments along the entire passenger journey. This also makes the airport experience shareable and unique via organic word-of-mouth communication.
At the same time, it is important to ensure that creativity enhances usability rather than distracting from essential passenger information. This balance has been judiciously considered in the design of Terminal 2.
For BIAL, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) led the overall architecture and interior design. "However the schematic and placement of the artworks was planned by the art team," Telkar explains.
The identity of Bengaluru is reflected right from the concepts for the entry gates. "They showcase the verdant greenery of Bengaluru and Karnataka in the form of backlit photographs, which were specially commissioned," she describes.
Inspired by the Naurasa of the Natyashastra, the airport's Art Programme interprets the nine fundamental human emotions through a range of artistic expressions. The emotions are love, laughter, sorrow, anger, heroism, fear, disgust, wonder, and peace.
The collection of artworks at the airport has been developed through a combination of open calls, partnerships, loan programmes, patronage, commissions, and art-led events. This multi-layered approach allows the programme to bring together diverse artistic voices and practices.
The art experience extends outside the airport as well. In the arrival plaza, passengers and visitors are treated to a spectacular installation called Bengaluru's Soul, by renowned Catalan artist Jaume Plensa.
The sculpture has a number of interwoven figures. They evoke the collective human capital that powers Bengaluru’s rise as a global technology and innovation hub — distinct individuals, but unified in purpose, imagination, and inquiry.
In sum, art and design are not merely aesthetic enhancements; they are strategic tools for airport performance and differentiation. They improve the entire travel experience, and even nudge passengers to choose specific terminals and airlines for their travels.
Distinctive design and authentic artistic expression help airports establish a recognisable identity in an increasingly competitive market. Public art and local creative partnerships strengthen cultural connections and support creative talent via airport displays.
Airports should certainly be secure and efficient places to travel through. But they can also offer cultural mearning and local resonance, as shown in this photo essay.
Now what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?
(All photographs taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at BIAL.)